The Fir-tree and the Bramble 1912

Arthur Rackham made this illustration, "The Fir-tree and the Bramble," using ink and watercolor. It's so linear! The line creates the form, and you can feel him working to build up the tone with these tiny strokes. I like that it’s not overworked, it's confident. He really lets the white paper do some of the work. The color palette is moody, with mostly grays and browns, but there are also some lovely deep reds in the brambles. It reminds me of my own process, where the underpainting peeks through, adding depth and complexity. The fir tree itself is really striking. It's almost human, with its gnarled branches and expressive face. And the way Rackham uses the ink to create texture is just masterful. If you look closely, you can see how he layers the strokes to build up the form and create a sense of depth. It reminds me a bit of Kay Nielsen's work, that graphic illustrative style, but with a unique kind of theatricality. It’s a good reminder that art is always in conversation with itself, across generations and styles.