Sirens (Painting by Arnold Böcklin)

 

Sirens is an oil painting painted in 1875 by the Swiss symbolist, romantic painter Arnold Böcklin (16 October 1827 – 16 January 1901). Many of Böcklin’s paintings are of mythological subjects. He’s best known work is the Isle of the Dead. Between 1880 and 1886, he painted five versions of the picture.

In Greek mythology, the Sirens are the daughters of the river god Achelous. Part bird, each of them had the face of a beautiful woman. Sometimes depicted with wings, and sometimes without, the sirens used their beautiful singing voices to enchant sailors passing their island home, and lure them to their deaths.

In classical literature, the number of sirens varies, with some texts stating their are only two, while other state there are as many as eight. In Homer’s Odyssey, there are only two, as in Böcklin’s painting. [Further Information]

Böcklin’s Sirens painting differs from many earlier works of art featuring the creatures, because his Sirens are without wings and appear to be at least half woman. In earlier works of art, the Sirens are depicted as big birds, with the only human features appearing above their shoulders.

Böcklin’s is not alone in taking inspirations from the Sirens in Greek mythology. A number of other artists have done so too including John William Waterhouse (1849–1917) and Herbert James Draper (1863 – 1920). Nor is Böcklin the only artist to give the Sirens a less bird-like appearance. In some paintings they look like mermaids, in others they appear as beautiful women.

The Sirens myth has also proved inspirational to a a number of authors, including Edward Lucas White, who incorporated them into his novelette The Song of the Sirens. Interestingly, one of the characters in White’s story refers to Böcklin’s painting, hinting it may have been a further source of inspiration.

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