The Nix in the Mill Pond
The Grimm Brothers original stories were collected from oral tradition and were generally not meant just for children but for everyone. Some are quite grisley and if I may say it, grim. They have been retold many times, cleaned up and 'Disneyfied' . Recently they have been retold by for modern reader by acclaimed author Philip Pullman.
I thought it would be fun to draw a few of my favourite original (and possibly darker) tales. This is my drawing of 'The Nix in the Mill Pond' - a beautiful water fairy who helps a Miller out of financial difficulties on the promise of his recieving his first child. The Miller becomes successful, but reneges on the deal, keeping his son well away from the fatal pond. The boy grows to a handsome man, becomes a Huntsman and marries a local girl. One day out hunting he strays too close to the Millpond and is snatched by the Nixie.
The tale has a rather strange ending - the young wife rescues her husband but they are turned into a toad and frog! A flood washes them out of the country and they resume their human form but forget all knowledge of each other for many years until finally they meet and recognise each other and live happily ever after.
But what of the poor Nix? I always thought she was cheated on the deal. She gave the Miller good fortune and was promised a lad to love for her own. The humas win out and live happily ever after but the Nix is doomed to loneliness in her waterey home. No wonder she gets annoyed.
Graphite and Graphitint on 300gsm Lana Hotpress paper. Image area 23 x 18 cm
Beautiful work Linda.
ReplyDelete