The Mice in Council 

Curator: We’re looking at “The Mice in Council” by Scott Gustafson. It appears to be watercolor and ink, showing a gathering of mice. My first thought is it feels almost like a theatrical stage set. Editor: It really does! I'm immediately drawn to the image of the cat dominating the background. It looks like an unfinished drawing, yet it is very clearly the ever-present danger to these mice. That looming feline energy. It reminds me of how the threat of war can dominate the lives of those who aren't even on the battlefield. Curator: Precisely. The political allegory is quite evident. We have a community grappling with an external threat. It references Aesop's fable. What I find compelling is how Gustafson portrays this miniature society. He has employed costume and pose, much like in Renaissance portraiture. Editor: Oh, absolutely, it mirrors grand historical paintings but with this charming twist of replacing human figures with mice! It suggests power structures, debates, decision-making processes...The mouse holding the bell certainly carries an air of authority, perhaps foolishly so. I think bells often signal hierarchy or a warning and sometimes celebrate a victory. Is that naive hope, here? Curator: Indeed. And look how Gustafson renders the textures. The aged wood, the ropes, even the rough paper of the cat drawing, it adds to the historical ambience, invoking old chapbooks. Editor: And each mouse has its distinct personality. They're not just a homogenous group. There is skepticism, attentiveness, fear, all captured in their expressions. Even their clothing suggests a story. Is that mouse in the red robe a bishop, perhaps? Curator: Could be. The artist understands that political issues transcend time, or even species, but they always come down to character, to types. By imbuing his mouse characters with unique visual markers, Gustafson underscores the universality of human, or in this case, mouse nature. The power of representation and how it perpetuates cultural memory is here brilliantly captured. Editor: Agreed. It makes me ponder the eternal dilemmas of community, safety, and the sometimes-absurd strategies we devise against looming threats. And really, in a visually engaging manner. Curator: The ability of artwork like this to blend classic storytelling with such sharp observations of social dynamics? It highlights the potent influence of visual imagery in cementing cultural ideas and traditions across ages.