The Wolf and the Crane 1912

This is Arthur Rackham's illustration, The Wolf and the Crane, made with ink, sometime around 1912. The whole thing’s etched in these wiry lines, right? Like the artist is feeling around, figuring out what’s what. I love how the crane seems so calm, all elegance and long legs, even as it's neck-deep in this wolf's gaping mouth. It reminds me of the push and pull of painting itself, that balance of control and letting go. I imagine Rackham hunched over his table, wrestling with the composition. The wolf looks so desperate and uncomfortable. It's like he is saying 'well this is what I have to do but I don't like it'. The cross hatching on the fur is just *chef’s kiss*. It's a reminder that even in illustration, there's room for experimentation.