Meerminnen in de golven 1875 - 1931

Louise Anne Saint made this work, Meerminnen in de golven, with ink and watercolor on paper, but the date is unknown. It’s a story of watery chaos! The mermaids in the waves are rendered in washes of grey and cream, it is all about the process. Saint's painting is so fresh, you can see the hand of the artist in every mark, I can almost smell the salt water! I love the way the brushstrokes dance across the surface, creating a sense of movement and depth. Look at the wave, you can almost see the foam crashing down on the hapless sailors clinging to their doomed vessel. She’s a master of light and shadow, the ink perfectly capturing the way the light bounces off the water. This painting shows how she is unafraid to let the process show. It reminds me of a slightly more narrative version of Whistler's seascapes, and that looseness allows for an open-ended interpretation, and an invitation to embrace the unknown.