The Mice at Work.Threading the Needle 1902

Beatrix Potter made "The Mice at Work. Threading the Needle" with watercolor and ink, and it's just so charming. I can almost feel the care and attention she put into every tiny detail. Imagine Potter hunched over her drawing table, carefully applying delicate washes of color to bring these little mice to life. The way she renders their fur, with those soft, muted browns and grays, makes you want to reach out and touch them. And the pink thread—it’s so vibrant against the floral patterned bedsheet that it almost vibrates off the page. You can almost see her squinting as she paints the eye of the needle. I sympathize with Potter and all artists - the labor and care that goes into mark-making. The act of painting, of making things, it's an act of love and dedication, don’t you think?