The Forest Maiden
1845
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1845
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A woman with long hair stands in a dark forest, her arms outstretched toward tiny men who wander between the trees. Around her, small scenes show her luring them deeper into the woods. This painting illustrates an old German folktale about a forest spirit who tricks men with her beauty. It was made during a time when people in Germany were rediscovering these stories, turning them into art. To see more eerie folk tales like this, look up *germany, 19th century*.
