The Man that pleased none 1908

Walter Crane made this image, "The Man that Pleased None," sometime between 1845 and 1915, presumably with watercolor, pastel and pen on paper. You can almost feel the artist searching for the right balance between storytelling and decorative pattern. The pastel colors feel light and airy, like a watercolor dream. Crane's outlining gives each figure clarity and definition while still retaining that dreamlike quality. The different characters appear caught up in this one little scene. I can imagine Crane wanting to make the figures both classical and contemporary. He might have been wondering if he could bring a sense of timelessness to the composition? The architectural elements add depth and structure. The bridge that leads into the landscape seems so flat, yet so infinite. It's like Crane is saying, "Let's not take ourselves too seriously, even when we're trying to create something meaningful." You can see how artists build upon each other's ideas. We are all in an ongoing exchange across time, inspiring creativity and enabling multiple interpretations of meaning.