The Little Mermaid: The Merman King 

Curator: Isn't it magical? This is an illustration called "The Little Mermaid: The Merman King," by Edmund Dulac. The dreamy scene, created with watercolor, simply pulls you into an underwater fairy tale. Editor: It has this eerie, old world charm, like an antique postcard discovered in a forgotten chest. The way those colours bleed together is so dreamlike...almost a bit haunting, wouldn't you say? Curator: Yes, haunting's a great word! Dulac was brilliant at creating mood. And that king! Perched on what looks like a stony throne, covered in shimmering scales. It’s so delicately executed and yet, something about the almost fearful fish is what catches my eye. Editor: Absolutely. Fish eyes always hold secrets. Note that gesture of exchange he is doing in this illustration; The Merman king appears to be offering some object with such delicacy and a level of caution to the wide eyed, big fish that approaches him. To me, it symbolizes a negotiation—perhaps an agreement that can be struck between humanity and Nature. It's as old as the seas. Curator: Yes, and even the coral tiara he's sporting speaks to both power and vulnerability, doesn’t it? It suggests sovereignty tied to this fragile, underwater realm. It’s a Symbolist trope, absolutely! He presents with dignity, almost challenging us to consider the sea as something more than just…scenery. Editor: And beyond the individual symbols, you've got this entire composition vibrating with what I'd describe as collective longing – for home, for understanding across different spheres of existence, even if the exchange occurs through something as minimal as the offered token of peace. This is the timeless, aching appeal that great images tap into! Curator: Absolutely. Dulac was working during an era deeply concerned with tapping into myths and cultural anxieties. His illustrations were visual poems exploring the mysteries of what he understood to be shared human imagination. Editor: Indeed. Looking at Dulac's work makes you want to lose yourself in watery depths... contemplating what symbols or creatures might await in those dimly lit grottos! Thank you for sharing that lovely image!