Nimf met putti 1881 - 1934

Arthur Mayeur made this black and white print, 'Nymph with Putti', at some point during his lifetime. I can imagine Mayeur hunched over his plate, etching tools in hand, carefully building up the darks and lights. Look at that nymph, draped and surrounded by cheeky little putti, almost engulfed by the dark thicket behind her. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, about her story, how she got here, what she's running from, who or what she is protecting? The delicate shading hints at the contours of her body, giving a sense of movement, as if she's stepped straight out of a dream. I find myself thinking about other artists, like Gustave Moreau, who played with similar themes of mythology and sensuality. It is as though there is an ongoing, timeless conversation, with each artist borrowing, remixing, and riffing off the past. It reminds us that art is never created in a vacuum, but grows out of dialogue and exchange across generations. It is an invitation to join the conversation.