Psyche

There is a striking sense of verticality in this 1915 piece, where the heavy, ink-black wings of a chimera seem to pull the viewer upward along with the figure of Psyche. The contrast is immediate: the sharp, dark silhouettes of the feathers against the pale, quiet vastness of a distant mountain range. It feels less like a scene from a book and more like a captured fragment of a dream, weightless, silent, and slightly haunting.

Why We Picked It
The power of this artwork lies in its balance of loud and quiet elements. The artist used deep black ink to create a sense of gravity, then broke it up with delicate, hand-painted highlights that catch the light unexpectedly. The horse’s head is rendered with fine, anatomical precision while its body dissolves into an abstract, floral-patterned cloak. It’s a sophisticated mix of realism and pure decoration that keeps your eyes moving across the page.

Notable Context
Created during the height of the Dutch Decadent movement, this piece interprets the psychological fairy tale Psyche. Verhagen was deeply influenced by the "English line" of Aubrey Beardsley and the dark mysticism of Karel de Nerée tot Babberich. This 1915 design reflects a transition in Dutch art where the swirling, organic curves of Art Nouveau began to give way to a sharper, more stylized graphic language. At this time, Verhagen was working largely in private, imbuing his illustrations with a personal, almost esoteric intensity that wasn't shared with the public until much later.

About the Artist
Otto Verhagen (1885–1951) was a unique figure in early 20th-century Dutch art. A government official by profession, he maintained a private, prolific practice as a draftsman and painter. His work is characterized by a refined, "Beardsley-esque" sensibility, often exploring mythological and decadent themes. His ability to weave intricate, rhythmic patterns into haunting, narrative scenes makes him a vital, if once-hidden, contributor to European Symbolism.