Re: Tantalus
According to Greek myth, Tantalus, King of Lydia, was a son of Zeus. Invited to feast with the gods of Olympus, Tantalus stole nectar and ambrosia, the food of the gods that offers immortality. But that was not the end of his cuisine-related naughtiness, for Tantalus chopped up his own son, Pelops, and stewed him, and served him up as dish of the day to the gods. The gods, needless to say, were miffed. They punished Tantalus thus: he was made to stand in water that receded as soon as he attempted to drink and under a tree whose fruit moved out of reach whever he attempted to pick it. From this myth is derived the verb "tantalize": ah, the frustration when something is ALMOST within reach!
In this tantalizing design, the fruit is ALMOST reachable, but the tree is ALMOST a hand to pluck it away. The sketchiness ALMOST conveys modelled forms, and the circle is ALMOST complete.
It's probably ALMOST the same idea as everyone else has had who's illustrated the myth since the age of the Ancient Greeks. Enjoy it anyway (almost)!
