Interpretation of the Painting

Two young girls are at the center of this enchanting work, connected by a quiet, almost dreamlike gesture of affection. Between them dances a white bird, a symbol of innocence and freedom, while a vibrant golden bird at their feet grounds the composition. On the left edge of the painting, a mysterious, angel-like figure with rabbit-colored wings hovers—half-fairy, half-guardian—deepening the fairytale imagery of an inner world where childhood and dreams flow together without boundaries. The warm gold of the background—that characteristic "non-color" representing splendor and life—illuminates the entire scene like a distant, gentle light. The figures do not seem painted, but rather as though they have stepped out of a dream: delicate, floating, significant. The work was created between 1973 and 1974 and carries the stylistic language of archaic and Etruscan art, which Ri Meuser von Eschmar experienced and internalized directly through her participation in archaeological excavations, including those at Etruscan burial sites.

Technique: Mono Sgraffito

The uniqueness of this work lies not only in its motif but in the method by which it was created. For "Dreaming Girls," Ri Meuser von Eschmar layered high-quality color pigments—some mixed with the finest gold dust—onto an ultra-thin film. Each layer was worked on, sometimes removed, sometimes glazed anew: a process that could extend over as many as 16 working stages. This very multi-layered quality makes the fleeting blending of the figures possible—the way the girls seem to emerge from the golden base as if the past and present were visible at the same time. This technique, developed by the artist herself—the Mono Sgraffito—creates a depth and luminosity that cannot be achieved with classical painting techniques. Light plays a crucial role: depending on the angle of incidence, the work changes its character and reveals new nuances.

The Artist

Prof. Ri Meuser von Eschmar, born in Darmstadt, studied stage design in Darmstadt and painting in Aachen. As a freelance artist with her own studio near Bonn, she developed the Mono Sgraffito—a completely independent visual language that makes her unmistakable. Over 350 solo exhibitions worldwide—from the Harrods Gallery in London and the Galleria del Arte in Florence to the Earth Vision Gallery in Palo Alto—attest to her international significance. Her works have been honored with numerous awards, including the Rubens Medal and the Golden Oscar (France). Study trips to every continent, deep-sea fishing expeditions off the coasts of Iceland and Greenland, and participation in archaeological excavations have deeply and permanently shaped her imagery.