Sketch for the Water Sprite (1881)

Dated 1881, "Sketch for the Water Sprite" is an artwork by Ernst Josephson. Context for 1881: In the 1890s, colour lithography and Art Nouveau made the illustrated poster a celebrated art form. Japanese prints reached Europe in large numbers and influenced many artists, while photography changed what painting needed to do. Background on Mythology: Mythological painting draws on stories from Greek and Roman myth, and on other traditions such as Norse, Celtic, and Hindu narrative. Artists from the Renaissance to the Symbolists returned to myth to explore love, power, fate, and transformation. It is listed in the Mythology collection. The image is in portrait orientation.

On onlly.art "Sketch for the Water Sprite" is sold as a digital download (Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI). The files are delivered by email after payment, so nothing is shipped: you print locally, choosing the paper, size, and frame yourself. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. Before printing, compare the proportions of the file with your frame so that nothing important is cropped. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Matte and fine-art papers reduce glare in bright rooms, while glossy papers give stronger contrast and deeper blacks.

Swedish, 1851–1906

If you like the visual language of Ernst Josephson, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.