Bobbing among the mangroves and coral reefs in shallow ocean waters like so many hobbyhorses, the seahorse has been a favorite trope for artists from every 
corner of the earth.
corner of the earth.Now, thanks to the researches of marine biologists, we know that their mating habits are as charming as their miniature, spiny, horse-like appearance. During courtship, seahorses swim in tandem, are oblivious to outsiders, change colors, and even entwine their tails. When the female gives the male
her eggs to fertilize and incubate, he swells up. She visits him each morning until he gives birth.
her eggs to fertilize and incubate, he swells up. She visits him each morning until he gives birth. 1. Joseph Mathurin Meheuet - Seahorses, 1912, Pompidou Center, paris
2. Japan - New Year's Card, Showa Era, Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
3. Takahashi Haruke - New Year's Eve Card, 1928, Boston museum of Fine Arts.
4. LeHaye for Rozenburg Pottery - Seahorse vase, 1900, National Cermaics Museum, Sevres, France.
5. Emile Galle - Seahorse vase, 1889, Musee D'Orsay, Paris.
5. Emile Galle - Seahorse vase, 1889, Musee D'Orsay, Paris.
6. Henri Dubret - Seahorse pendant, 1919, MuseeD'Orsay, Paris.
7. Gerhard Munthe - Horses of the Sea, 1907, Trondheim Museum.
4 comments:
I did notice that the seahorse was sometimes substituted for the dragon on Japanese New Year's cards, but nobody seemed to know the reason behind it. It is interesting that the dragon is the only one of the 12 creatures that is mythological. The Munthe piece is wonderful! Is it a tapestry?
Yes, the Munthe piece is a tapestry and I agree that it is wonderful, but I thought for awhile before including it. It was customary for an artist to design a tapestry that was then executed by others, and in practice that meant women often exeucted works that men got total credit for. Munthe made things worse - in my book - when he complained, " I don't want to be woven by women."
Hmm, interesting comment, that, since Munthe was already "woven" by a woman. Indeed! Silly man. But I love the idea of the male seahorses swelling up and carrying the babies. I don't know if I'd visit "every" day. Maybe every other day. : ) Jeanne
Jeanne, male seahorses are more chamring than male Munthes, I think.
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