Three Women and Three Wolves 

Eugène Grasset made this extraordinary watercolour, Three Women and Three Wolves, in France. The piece presents three women in a blood-red forest, closely observed by three black wolves. The women, with their flowing gowns and hair, evoke the symbolist movement, but this is a symbolist work with teeth. Grasset’s piece might be tapping into a growing popular interest in occultism and mysticism. The period saw a resurgence of interest in folklore and fairy tales, often exploring themes of hidden knowledge, transformation, and the blurring of boundaries between the human and animal worlds. The piece invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. As art historians, we can consult period publications, such as La Revue Blanche, to understand the cultural context in which it was made, and think about the way this art challenged social norms of the time.