I am the witch of the north 1900

William Wallace Denslow made "I am the Witch of the North" sometime around 1900, likely with pen, ink, and commercial printing techniques. This illustration showcases the artist's ability to harmonize line, color, and form, made possible through advances in industrial printing. The distinct, crisp lines define the characters and objects, while the vibrant, flat colors fill them in, indicative of a mechanized production process. The result is a mesmerizing visual experience that captivates the imagination. Denslow’s image exists at a crucial juncture, when mass production began to meet sophisticated artistry. This illustration reflects the era's shifting dynamics of labor, where artistic skill was increasingly integrated with mechanical efficiency. As much as Denslow conceived of this image, his choices were also framed by the materials and technologies that were available to him, which speaks volumes about the place of both art and labor in society at the time. Thinking about materials and processes helps us appreciate the rich layers of meaning embedded in this deceptively simple illustration, which lives in both the world of fine art and the realm of commercial craft.