The Cock and the Pearl, The Wolf and the Lamb 1908

Walter Crane created “The Cock and the Pearl, The Wolf and the Lamb” using pen and ink, and watercolor. These were traditional means for making illustrations for books in the late 19th century. Look closely, and you'll notice the intricate linework, and soft washes of color. These wouldn’t have been dashed off quickly. Crane was working at a time when industrial printing was becoming widespread, but high-quality illustration still required skilled handwork. Both the cock and the pearl, and the wolf and the lamb, draw on ancient fables to deliver their social critique. The fable of the cock and the pearl is a commentary on the values of the industrial age, as people became increasingly focused on material wealth. While the wolf and the lamb show how those in power will always find an excuse to exploit the vulnerable. Crane understood the potent combination of image and text. His choice of materials and making processes underscore the labor and care involved in communicating these simple, yet enduring, messages.