Artwork Page for The Forest Maiden

Details / Information for The Forest Maiden

The Forest Maiden

1845
printer

Wendelin Wick

(German, active 1842–1853)

Eugen Napoleon Neureuther

(German, 1806–1862)
Culture
Germany, 19th century
Medium
etching on steel on wove paper
Support
Wove paper
Measurements
Plate: 72 x 53 cm (28 3/8 x 20 7/8 in.); Sheet: 81 x 62 cm (31 7/8 x 24 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Stephen Dull 2018.303
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Folk tales that featured a young maiden falling in love with a prince were very popular in 19th-century Germany, well before Walt Disney!

Description

The story of The Forest Maiden tells of female demon who inhabits the forest and appears as a beautiful woman to tempt and prey upon unwitting men. This prints shows several different scenes of seduction, placed through an elaborately woven forest canopy. Eugen Neureuther made this elaborate etching depicting the tale during a revival of interest in folk tales in Germany in the early 19th century.
A vertically oriented print in black ink on off-white paper depicts a dense forest framed by a pointed arch of twisted trunks. In the center, a man sits beside a woman in a flowing gown; both have light skin tones. Small winged figures and animals populate the branches, and large white lilies bloom at the top center. A seated figure appears in the hazy background. German text is printed along the bottom margin.

The Forest Maiden

1845

Wendelin Wick, Eugen Napoleon Neureuther

(German, active 1842–1853), (German, 1806–1862)
Germany, 19th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork