De Drie Bruiden (The Three Brides)
Jan Toorop was an influential artist during the Art Nouveau and drew inspiration from his cultural heritage as a Dutch-Indonesian. In this particular painting, he incorporates characteristics of Art Nouveau, such as the organic shapes and muted color schemes, with Javanese culture. For example, the women in the painting resemble Javanese wayang kulit, a traditional form of shadow puppetry.
The painting depicts a young woman in the middle, deciding between a spiritual and earthly life. Toorop incorporates juxtaposing elements to highlight the difference between the two. For example, the foreground is decorated with bells, lilies, and butterflies, “an expression of the birth of the eternally feminine here on earth, as Toorop writes” (Krollermuller). However, the background is ominous, hinting at potential danger.
