Sarah Miller "Mandrake at Night"

Sarah Miller (WA)

Mandrake at Night
watercolor and colored pencil, cardstock
11" x 8.5", in black frame
ready to hang

"Mandrake at Night" is a dancing mandrake illustration inspired by historical herbal traditions, including Italian folklore. The piece focuses on the mandrake’s association with nighttime harvesting and its reputation as a plant that exists in a strange place between healing, pain relief, or hallucinations - depending on the dosage.

The Mandrake root has a long history in European herbal medicine. It was used in small doses as a sedative, pain reliever, and anesthetic. Because of its potency, its medicinal use required caution and specialized knowledge. In folklore, the mandrake was often associated with beliefs about its ability to influence sleep, fertility, and the boundary between consciousness and unconsciousness. 

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