This was inspired by a scene in a children’s book by Philip Pullman called ‘The Firework Maker’s Daughter” and though in my mind I saw it as it was written in the book, when I came to make it this is what happened.

At one point in the story, the heroine, Lila comes to the shore of a lake at a time when the Full Moon Ceremony is about to begin. “The sand was swept and smoothed, lanterns were hung in the trees, and blossoms of all colours were scattered on the water. (…) The ceremony began. A great drum sounded three times, and an orchestra began to play: gongs and xylophones and drums and cymbals and flutes. A line of dancers came out of the temple and swayed down the path towards the lake, their fingernails snapping and flicking like fireflies and their golden skirts shimmering in the lantern light.

The headman of the village struck a light and lit a scented candle in a paper boat, which he floated out onto the lake. The incense made the air rich and sweet. Very soon other paper boats were floating out to join in, and then a little child pointed to the tree tops on the far side of the lake and said: ‘Moon!’. The full moon was rising…”

Though the overall image was inspired by the book, the way it turned out makes it look like the woman came to the scene after all the crowds went away and she’s quietly looking out, quite peacefully. Perhaps that’s me ;) I never was a crowd sort of person.