Oh, Don't Hurt Me! Cried Tom. I Only Want to Look at You; You Are So Handsome 1916

Jessie Willcox Smith made this illustration, “Oh, Don't Hurt Me! Cried Tom. I Only Want to Look at You; You Are So Handsome,” during the Golden Age of American Illustration. It depicts a scene of childlike wonder and confrontation with nature. This image creates meaning through the contrast between the vulnerable, naked boy and the looming, almost menacing fish. Made in the United States, it reflects the early 20th-century fascination with the pastoral and the innocent. Smith was one of the foremost female illustrators of her time. The imagery touches on the social structures of its time, presenting a romanticized view of childhood innocence, while also hinting at the potential dangers lurking in the natural world. Understanding the image requires us to consider the cultural values and social anxieties of the time, drawing on resources from the history of illustration, children’s literature, and gender studies. Art’s meaning is contingent on this social and institutional context.