The Peacock’s Complaint 1908

Walter Crane made this illustration, The Peacock’s Complaint, with ink and watercolor. I can only imagine all the subtle washes he must have laid down to get these delicate hues. It's interesting how Crane uses line to separate color, creating flat decorative patterns. It makes me think about the way in which he probably built up this image, bit by bit, perhaps starting with a sketch and then adding layers of color and detail. Crane's use of composition and symbolism reminds me of the Pre-Raphaelites, who were also interested in medieval art and literature. The border around the edge also relates to the idea of the illuminated manuscript. I can see Crane sitting at his drawing board, carefully rendering each feather and fold of drapery, lost in the world of myth and imagination. It's that imagination that makes this image so rich and captivating.