Mistletoe Oak 1979

Kit Williams made this unusual artwork named 'Mistletoe Oak', but we don't know exactly when. The image presents a mother pig nursing her piglets under an oak tree laden with mistletoe, all framed within a decorative wooden border of stars and a crescent moon. The scene evokes a sense of rural England and a certain kind of folk magic. But what are we to make of this playful mix of naturalism and whimsy? Williams came to prominence in the late 1970s and early 80s with 'Masquerade', a picture book containing clues to the location of a buried golden hare. The book’s huge success speaks to the hunger for puzzles, and for a sense of enchantment, that developed in this period. It arguably marks the beginnings of the ‘escape room’ culture that is so popular today. To fully understand it we must remember that art making is contingent on social and institutional context. Researching popular culture in late 20th century Britain will help us understand it better.