The Mice at Work.Threading the Needle 1902

Beatrix Potter made "The Mice at Work. Threading the Needle" with watercolor and pen and ink, and I think she saw the world with a playful, observant eye much like a child. The delicate linework and soft palette evoke a cozy, miniature world. I love the contrast of textures here; the rough grain of the wood against the smooth, patterned fabric. Check out the little mouse in the foreground, so intently focused on threading that needle. The way Potter captures the physicality of this tiny creature is wonderful, the soft fur, the delicate paws. It reminds me of the work of Richard Dadd, another artist who created incredibly detailed, imaginative scenes. Potter's work, like Dadd's, invites us to slow down and marvel at the small wonders of the world. It suggests that art is as much about the process of seeing and imagining as it is about the finished product.