The Mermaid
1881
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Frederic Stuart Church
Frederic Stuart Church (1886–1886) was an artist.
See the richer artist page1881
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Mermaid is a 1881 ink by Frederic Stuart Church, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a strange, dreamlike figure half-human, half-fish. The lines are scratchy and uneven, like the artist was in a hurry—or maybe just drawing fast. The background looks like waves, but they’re all wavy lines, not smooth water. The mermaid’s hair blends into the water, and her face is shadowy. The whole thing feels rough and raw, not polished. It’s not a pretty picture—more like a sketch that’s still moving. If you like this style, look up etching to see how artists make prints like this.
Frederic Stuart Church (1886–1886) was an artist.
See the richer artist page
