Alice in Wonderland 

Editor: Here we have Mary Blair's "Alice in Wonderland", a painting. The whimsical composition gives it such a playful, almost childlike feel, doesn't it? What aspects of its visual form stand out to you most? Curator: Formally, I'm immediately drawn to the interplay of contrasting colors. Note the juxtaposition of the cool blues and purples of the forest against the warm yellows and greens of the house and surrounding landscape. This creates a visual tension, heightening the dreamlike quality. The spatial relationships, too, are of interest; what are your thoughts? Editor: I see the wonky angle of the house. Is it simply to communicate its topsy-turvy character? Curator: Perhaps. But consider also the flatness of the picture plane. Blair avoids traditional perspective, flattening the space and pushing the image towards abstraction. Observe how the graphic style reinforces this; it prioritizes simplified shapes and bold outlines, reminiscent of modernist design principles. Do you find these visual elements create a sense of unease? Editor: Yes, there’s definitely something unsettling beneath the surface. Even though it’s very bright, there's this undercurrent of strangeness. Curator: Indeed. And consider, ultimately, how the synthesis of colour, space and graphic style evokes a sense of both wonder and disorientation—core themes found in Wonderland. What have you learned during this conversation? Editor: It really made me think about how colours, shapes and perspective can all affect my interpretation of a painting. Thanks. Curator: I, too, find it instructive to consider how even seemingly simple compositions yield unexpected complexity upon deeper reflection.