For two days and two nights the boat was and hither and thither 

Curator: Ah, I am always captivated by "For two days and two nights the boat was tossed hither and thither." It's a watercolour work that I suspect dates back to the late 19th century. Walter Crane is the artist and there's such incredible tenderness within those crashing waves. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the tension between the rough sea and the mother holding her child. The work appears very symbolic—this is about hardship, no doubt, but it seems so romanticized, somehow. Curator: You’re quite right to pick up on that romance. Walter Crane very much embraced the Symbolist movement, with its rich combination of fantasy and mythological undertones. One of Crane's most outstanding attributes in any piece of work is the degree of balance that is felt between art, and decoration. Editor: Absolutely. I'm looking at the materials—that watercolor— and the flatness of the picture plane. The mark-making in the water looks stylized but the boat still reads, at least compositionally, like a little vessel cast afloat in churning societal forces. Did the process mirror the struggle in the narrative? Curator: It's fascinating to consider. Walter Crane, I feel, sought to convey through the application of such a demanding medium that such scenes of difficulty will only enhance our human development. He was greatly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement. He likely approached his materials thoughtfully, to elevate not just his practice, but the spiritual journey it entails. The decorative patterning suggests an appreciation for the domestic setting too. Editor: So, by linking this tale to both fine art and the crafting of everyday spaces, is Crane attempting to ennoble what would otherwise be considered base forms of labor and survival? Curator: Precisely! I think he urges us to contemplate not just the aesthetic quality of art, but the value we attribute to experience and emotion in life itself. Editor: Very insightful. Thank you! I certainly won’t be forgetting this anytime soon. Curator: And thank you. Walter Crane is often overlooked but I believe is a visionary whose works, and perspectives on society, deserve to be reconsidered.