(by Throughdarkforests)

Gilt bronze fragment from "the Temple Pyx", Germany, mid 12th century

from The Burrell Collection, Glasgow

Sunbeam, Ekaterina Goldinger

"Mushrooms and Rowan" by Kh. Yakupov (1980)

selcha ☽ uni (@selchauni)

This is one of my favorite paintings I've done.

These are Huldra or Hulderfolk from Scandinavian folklore. Hulderfolk are seductive forest spirits and their name translates loosely to "hidden" or "secret". They're said to look like normal women with the only difference being the hole in their back that resembles a hollowed tree and the long cow-like tail which they hide under their skirts. If you encounter a Huldra and treat her with respect, she will be very helpful (sharing the best fishing spots or tending to your charcoal kiln), but mistreat her and the punishment will be severe (being beaten to death with her tail or taken into the mountains never to be seen again).

“The airy sky has taken its place leaning against the wall. It is like a prayer to what is empty. And what is empty turns its face to us and whispers: “I am not empty, I am open.””

— Tomas Tranströmer, from “Vermeer,” in The Winged Energy of Desire (trans. by Robert Bly, 2004).

Escape To the Stars, Pleiades Sisters by Ashley of GhostlyInnovations

Fairy tower

«Nøkken» - Acrylic on canvas

by Kyle Bonallo (ig: @kylebonallo)