Inspired by a Cretan wall mural at Phylakopi in Melos, c. 1500 B.C., this fresco is a solid example of the Cretans' portrayal of a marine life nature scene. The composition consists of fish with wing-like fins, gliding through the water amongst strange-shaped objects, which may be interpreted as floating pebbles, and rocks lining the sea floor. Other designs here may represent seaweed. The blue, yellow and white colors were commonly used in many frescoes during the late Minoan/early Mycenaean era.

Through a complexity of highlight and shadow, Bogdanoff creates a fossil-like appearance to his fish, which give the fresco a contrast of the free-flowing movement of sealife and, at the same time, the illusion that the fish have been imbedded in rock, frozen in time.

Bogdanoff Gallery, (505) 690-2323, e-mail: info@bogdanoff.com

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©Copyright, 1999-2009, Steve Bogdanoff. All artwork copyrights are held and retained by the artist Steve Bogdanoff. Images are not to be printed, copied, appropriated or distributed without prior permission of the artist. Purchase of artwork does not convey copyrights. Permission is granted to the public to desktop print these art images for the sole purpose of evaluating artwork for purchase. All rights reserved.