There’s an old woman dwells upon Tappington Moor. 1911

Arthur Rackham made this illustration, called There’s an old woman dwells upon Tappington Moor, using ink and watercolor. Look at the washes of neutral tones, how they spread and bleed into one another to create atmosphere! You get a sense of place in this picture, an eerie isolation. I can imagine Rackham wanting to create something that could live in your mind. The scratchy lines and delicate tonal variations create a moody effect – I can almost feel the wind and smell the damp earth. Those tiny footprints from the cottage leading nowhere are a great touch. There’s a conversation happening here with other artists, like Aubrey Beardsley or even Paula Rego, who also explored folklore. Ultimately, it's like this piece reminds us that art doesn't always need to be big or loud to say something powerful.