Meeresidylle 1887

Arnold Böcklin painted this seascape with oil on canvas in 1887. We see a family of sea creatures perched on rocks amidst a turbulent sea. The figures – a merman, mermaid, and their offspring – embody a yearning for a primitive, unspoiled existence, far from the constraints of modern society. Consider the merman, a figure echoed in ancient Greek depictions of Triton, a messenger of the sea, son of Poseidon. Triton’s commanding presence, often shown blowing a conch shell to calm or stir the waters, symbolizes control over the primal forces of nature. Yet, in Böcklin’s interpretation, the merman appears less a god and more a creature, a bridge between humanity and the untamed ocean. The mermaid, evoking similar figures across cultures, embodies a potent symbol of seduction and danger. In the collective unconscious, the sea is often a place of both refuge and peril. These figures re-emerge throughout art history, a testament to their lasting grip on our imaginations.