Whispers in the Waves

Dutch artist Marieke Nelissen has brought an eerie, dreamlike touch to Gefluister in de golven (Whispers in the Waves), published by Lemniscaat this November.

Collaborating for the third time with author Margaretha van Andel, Marieke experimented with fountain pen inks on both dry and wet paper to create unsettling orange glows and unpredictable textures, perfectly suited to tales of ghost ships, sea monsters, and drowned mermaids.

The result is a series of atmospheric illustrations that feel at once delicate and haunting, echoing the book’s mix of folklore and fear.

With complete artistic freedom, Marieke immersed herself in a style that embraces the beauty of chance, making this two-year project a uniquely expressive and evocative body of work.