Uh, Hentai? I guess you could draw that conclusion. But I don't really see it.
Something about vanity? It works, it fits, but it's not what I see.
My interpretation is that the woman, like the troll, is also a folk spirit/ creature of the woods. I believe the troll is slightly envious of the woman's majestic form, and has convinced himself (herself?) that the woman must be vain. In the troll's eyes, the woman could only be looking at her own reflection.
The truth is that the woman actually isn't looking at her reflection, but everything else. She's looking at the fish, the creatures all around her, and even the troll. These things make her feel one with the forest, since she's shaped like a humans. Humans can't coexist with nature like the troll and fish can, so in a way she envies them, but instead of responding negatively, she tries to revel in their ability to exist so senselessly with the forest. So the picture is actually just depicting the troll's view of the situation. who knows what he could learn if he actually chose to talk to her. Hmmm, That actually sounds like a good story, I might have to write that story... Oh my, did you just inspire me with your inspired work!?
As for the art itself, it's as any inspiration/homage should be. It borrows just enough from the source material to be recognizable, but is entirely in your own style. It draws the viewer in for very different reasons than the original.
Good job. I'll be watching for your future art.
Reviews for "girl and troll by swamp"
I really love reading different peoples interpretations, I would never had thought of it this way but it makes a lot of sense.
You should definitely write a book, at least a short story, and notify me when you're finished, because I'd read the shit. Based on your review, it seems you have a creative mind, so go for it :)
And lastly, thanks for the kind words and the review! It was fun to read.
All these fucking paragraphs of reviews. Nice work man.
But I'll say Iiiiiiiii'd never bathe in a swamp.
Thanks! Yeah I'm quite surprised as to how much love this piece has gotten.
It's beautiful, I love the dark tone that it holds. Now I don't know how many people have said this before me, if any, but I kind of see a misunderstood guardian, watching over the girl not as a creep/threat, but more as something who's making sure any and all creeps/threats get their pay. I know that sounds a bit cliché, but it can work.
I understand if you find all of this as stupidity being spat out from someone who has no damn clue on what the fuck he's talking about, but I just wanted to get my opinion on the visuals out there, as well as my interpretation of it all. It's a very nice looking piece of work (and I'm not just saying that because of the tits)
I feel like telling people that their opinions on art are right or wrong kind of ruins the fun. As I said in an earlier response I love reading different interpretations of my art because it means I've made something that people can have opinions about. Anyways, I'm glad you like it, and thanks for the review!
this is lovely
You're lovely!
This looks excellent, but I just can't help comparing your princess with the original one. Yours seems to be significantly less innocent. The original one is a girl who's just curiously observing her face, yet this one is a woman gazing upon the beauty of her body, looking quite vain while doing so. The look on the monster's face kind of highlights that. I feel like Bauer's work is in its essence very pure and I didn't think it was possible to draw something inspired by him that has to be rated M. If this was intentional then I'm impressed, you managed to see it in a completely different light and create a whole new atmosphere out of already existing art, all of which is extremely hard. However, if it wasn't intentional, and you wanted to capture the original atmosphere, oh well, it's okay, everyone gets better with practice.
It was actually intended, thank you for noticing. In the original story she is described as "young", "innocent" and "little", and I felt that something as pure as John Bauer's original painting could get seriously miss understood if I changed the scenario to that of my reincarnation here, and put it on newgrounds, among with all the fucked up shit you can find on this site; so I had to make her more mature. And if people think hentai when they see this (which they do apparently), imagine how I would look if I made the girl as young as in the original painting (no offence to all the loli fans out there, but I don't want to be a part of that shit). Anyhow, thanks for the review! I'm glad you like it and that my art can raise these kinds of questions, because that's what art is all about; making you think.