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Mermaids have always been popular subjects in fantasy art. In
some works, artists depict them with extremely fair skin and hair. Three
such examples are included below.
When asked to comment on the very light coloration of her mermaid, Deborah Byrne responded that her piece had been created within the context of a story involving the evolution of an aquatic civilization. The mermaid was designed with the idea that at great depths below sea level, there would be little need for pigment since sunlight would be relatively scarce. Whether other artists also take biological factors into consideration or choose this particular appearance purely for aesthetic purposes makes for an interesting line of inquiry.
"Last Detail Drawing" by Deborah Byrne, color pencil, 1987.
"Daughter of the Sea" by Charles Vess (detail)
Unidentified art from Postermania greeting card (L-WON 123A)
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