‘Little niece,’ said Kühleborn, ‘forget not that I am here with thee as a guide.’ 1912

Arthur Rackham drew ‘Little niece,’ said Kühleborn, ‘forget not that I am here with thee as a guide.’ sometime around 1900 with pen, ink and watercolour. I love how Rackham coaxes the scene into being with these delicate lines, it reminds me that making art is an act of gentle revealing, not a violent imposition. Look how the ink outlines define every element, like the frothing waves, while the watercolor washes fill them with a soft, dreamy light. Notice the old man’s beard, how it seems to merge with the swirling cloak that billows behind him, like smoke. It's as if he's conjuring the very landscape they inhabit! Rackham’s work always makes me think of other illustrators like Aubrey Beardsley, who used a similar sinuous line but with a darker, more decadent edge. Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong interpretation. It’s all just a beautiful, ongoing conversation between artists, inviting us to listen in.