The sleeping mermaid

John Weguelin was an English painter and illustrator who often drew inspiration from classical mythology and folklore. Weguelin was known for his portrayal of female figures – usually scantily-clad – against dramatic backgrounds.

In The Sleeping Mermaid, a mermaid is lying on the sand, her body slightly askew and her shell bra tossed aside. Using muted tones and expressive brushstrokes, Weguelin presents nudity in such a way that it is the main subject of his work, more so than the figure itself.

It might be argued that his depiction of nudity – not just in The Sleeping Mermaid, but also in his wider work – deliberately blurs the line between fine art and pornography, presenting his libido as an adequate rationale for creativity. Here, the mermaid is passive and is therefore powerless to the active male painter and viewer.

- Rata Holtslag, 2018