Denslow’s Mother Goose Pl 54 1901

Curator: Let's discuss "Denslow's Mother Goose Pl 54" by William Wallace Denslow, created in 1901. It presents as a lively cartoon-style drawing. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the whimsicality. It's so buoyant and playful—a world of imagination feels just a step away, yet there is a latent commentary I am curious about. Curator: Denslow was a master of line drawings. Note the economical yet descriptive use of line to define form and texture, and consider the means of production: What does it tell us about the printing processes available at the time? Editor: Thinking about this from a historical and socio-political perspective, one has to wonder about the narrative itself: a character about to pluck a goose. In children’s media, the role of children are often used as mirrors of societal expectation. Considering the goose being subjected to possible discomfort here makes me wonder about power dynamics and their place in children's socialisation. Curator: Indeed, such interpretations are valid. And perhaps the narrative reflects a resource extraction logic—feathers being valuable commodities and part of larger economy—so consider the commodification of nature that underpinned society during that period, and think of Denslow’s background as an artist and illustrator, designing bookplates and creating magazine illustrations, he engaged with the processes of reproduction and commercial distribution inherent in these children's illustrations. Editor: It is thought-provoking. We can see reflections of an industrial world in the act of the kid getting ready to pluck the poor goose. Perhaps children, and women, at the time had a part to play in a production line that included acts of harvesting, no different from harvesting wool in mills or picking fruits in fields. The way Denslow captured the zeitgeist really speaks volumes. Curator: It certainly demonstrates that examining children's literature of that period unveils many clues. It showcases his masterful ability to create seemingly simple narratives that embed broader ideas of economic life. Editor: I appreciate your point about the materiality and context, really bringing into view something many may skim over. A whimsical moment holds layers when properly analysed.