The Secret Garden 1912

Charles Robinson made this illustration, titled The Secret Garden, with pen and ink and watercolour. You know, there's something about watercolour that feels so immediate, so of the moment. The soft, muted tones evoke a sense of nostalgia. But it's more than just pretty colours. Look at how Robinson uses the watery medium to create depth and texture. See the way the colours bleed into each other, creating subtle gradients? It's like he's letting the paint do its own thing, embracing the unpredictable nature of the medium. Take the flowers in the background, for example. They're not sharply defined, but rather, they emerge from a haze of soft colour. It's like a dream, a memory. This reminds me of Arthur Rackham, who worked at the same time. Both were drawn to fairytale and children’s stories and shared a fascination with the world of the imagination. Art is always speaking to other art, a way of creating ongoing conversation.