Alexander Rothaug (Vienna 1870-1946 Vienna)
Mermaid and Hermit [Nixe und Eremit]
date unknown
tempera and chalk in black on double-sheet brownish wove paper
22,3 x 15,8 cm
The Daulton Collection
Provenance:
ex coll. artist Ernst Fuchs (Austrian, 1930-2015)
Estate of Robert Seitschek (1910 Vienna – 1990 Kufstein)
Friedrich Feiersinger Collection, Tyrol
Estate of Robert Seitschek (1910 Vienna – 1990 Kufstein)
Friedrich Feiersinger Collection, Tyrol
Discussion:
"From his boat, the hermit, bent over, looks down into the water to get a closer look at the mermaid swimming in the depths. Whether this is a motif from a fairy tale, a mythological scene, or a regional legend remains an open question. The motif of the mermaid repeatedly preoccupied Rothaug, not only in his paintings and drawings, but he also wrote poems on the subject (cf. Horst G. Ludwig, Alexander and Leopold Rothaug, Munich 2009, pp. 27 ff.). Here, too, his favorite themes are evident: the forest spring, the quiet shore, the lively little mermaid, the fear of humans paired with curiosity." B
From his boat, the hermit, bent over, looks down into the water to get a closer look at the mermaid swimming in the depths. Whether this is a motif from a fairy tale, a mythological scene, or a regional legend remains an open question. The motif of the mermaid repeatedly preoccupied Rothaug, not only in his paintings and drawings, but he also wrote poems on the subject (cf. Horst G. Ludwig, Alexander and Leopold Rothaug, Munich 2009, pp. 27 ff.). Here, too, his favorite themes are evident: the forest spring, the quiet shore, the lively little mermaid,
the fear of humans paired with curiosi
["Von seinem Kahn aus blickt der Eremit tief gebückt nach unten ins
Wasser hinein, um die in der Tiefe schwimmende Nixe genauer betrach
ten zu können. Ob es sich um ein Motiv aus einem Märchen handelt,
um eine mythologische Szene oder eine regionale Sage, bleibt offen. Das
Motiv der Nixe beschäftigte Rothaug immer wieder, nicht nur in seinem
malerischen und zeichnerischen Schaffen, sondern er schrieb auch
Gedichte zu dem Thema (vgl. Horst G. Ludwig, Alexander und Leopold
Rothaug, München 2009, S. 27 ff.). Auch hier zeigen sich seine bevor
zugten Topoi: die Waldesquelle, das stille Ufer, das muntere Nixlein,
die Furcht vor dem Menschen, gepaart mit Neugier."] B (German-language original text)
