Meerestille (Calm Sea) 1887

Arnold Böcklin made "Calm Sea" using oil paints, a medium that has been a cornerstone of artmaking for centuries. Oil paint has a unique way of conveying texture and depth. Look closely, and you'll notice the way the paint has been applied in layers to create a smooth, almost dreamy surface. Böcklin’s layering gives the mermaid’s skin a soft, ethereal glow. The scales of her tail shimmer with a pearlescent quality. Oil paints allowed Böcklin to achieve this level of detail, capturing the play of light on the water and the subtle gradations of color in the sky. The process of oil painting is time-consuming, requiring patience and skill. But it's precisely this attention to detail that makes the artwork so captivating. Böcklin challenges us to look beyond the surface and consider the material reality of the work, reminding us that even in the realm of fine art, craft and technique play a central role.