The story told in Wind Waker seemed straightforward when I first began to play through it, but eventually, I was made aware of how deep the lore in the game was. The importance of history and legends was weaved throughout almost every part of the narrative. Even the little details, such as a portrait on a wall, was rich with significance in regard to the people and situations I had been encountering.
The story got heavy at times is what I’m saying, so it’s nice to see art like this piece from BriMercedes, which is a fun take on some of that aforementioned lore.
If you have played Wind Waker, you might remember seeing the portrait that this portrait is based on hanging on a wall inside Hyrule Castle. The one in the game was of Princess Zelda and a number of other people (I’ve always assumed they were meant to be her attendants) all proudly exhibiting their regal statuses. Taking a good look at the image made it clear that these people were all either ancestors or incarnations of Tetra and her pirate crew. The game’s theme of history and destiny repeating themselves was so prominent that it affected even the minor characters.
This emphasis on the overbearing weight of destiny is why seeing a more silly side to the in-game portrait is so enjoyable. Everyone is huddling together to have their portrait painted, needing to stand in place for hours, and getting everyone to cooperate was not easy for the artist. The work on the canvas has only just begun, and it’s clear that some of the subjects are not enthused about how long they will need to stand there. And Zelda, who the artist will of course need to portray as having a regal and sophisticated demeanor, is busy being amused by one of her friend’s actions.
This portrait of a portrait is a nice example of how the funny, little moments between the serious ones can make all the difference. Given how many times Hyrule is thrust into danger, it’s nice to think that the kingdom’s people were given a chance to enjoy themselves every now and then.
