The star constellation, The Pleiades, consists of 6 or 7 stars visible to the naked eye – although with binoculars or a telescope more can be seen. Usually only 6 are seen but every once in a while, the seventh one appears. Not only in Greek mythology but also in Native American Indian legends, the Pleiades are referred to as the Seven Sisters. Legends tell us that the sisters tired of looking down at the people on earth and yearned to experience a day there. Permission was granted for them to descend from the sky for just one day. They were to return to the sky by nightfall. But by the time dusk arrived, one of the sisters (Myerope according to the Greeks) had fallen in love and was reluctant to return to the sky with the others. She felt bound to remain on earth. Ever so often, she misses her sisters and begs to be restored to the constellation for a night or two. The Great Spirit allows her the visit and the seven stars twinkle together in the dark sky.

In my etching, you can see 6 of the Pleiades in the sky. The seventh sister is loosely tied to the earth and looks longingly at her sisters in the constellation.

The etching was created on a copper plate.. 3 colours of ink were applied for the printing and additional colours were added later with watercolour. All of the etching,inking and printing of the plate as well as the application of paint was done by Irene Klar.

Etching & watercolour
Image size: 22 x 7″
Paper size:~25 x 10″

$500 USD/$640 CAD