Woman Floating in a River Attended by Two Female Spirits

Frederick Trapp Friis made this drawing, *Woman Floating in a River Attended by Two Female Spirits*, with graphite and white gouache over gray wash on paper. Born in Norway, Friis came of age during a time of growing industrialization and urbanization. In this context, artists looked towards representations of nature, spirituality and folklore. Here, he renders a woman floating in a dark river, attended by two spirit figures. The ethereal treatment of the figures, combined with the gloomy landscape, evokes a sense of mystery and the supernatural. The floating woman and spirits may reference figures from Norse mythology. The piece also taps into fin-de-siècle anxieties surrounding femininity. The woman's relaxed pose contrasts the shadowy setting, perhaps suggesting a vulnerability, or a connection to the unknown. Friis's drawing invites us to contemplate the intersection of nature, spirit, and feminine identity at the turn of the century. What emotions does this piece stir in you? How does it speak to our current moment?