Illustration for Fairy Circus 

Dorothy Lathrop crafted this illustration for Fairy Circus, populated by fairies, frogs, and mushrooms, each laden with symbolic weight. The mushroom, a common motif in fairy tales, here serves as a gathering place. The fairy astride the frog immediately brings to mind tales of transformation. The frog, often a symbol of metamorphosis, is here ridden by a winged fairy. Think of Apuleius's "The Golden Ass" or even more ancient myths of animal guides and transformations. These ancient narratives remind us that the boundaries between species are not fixed. This blending of human and animal, and the concept of transformation, touches on deeply rooted anxieties and hopes related to our own mortality and potential. Observe the fairy's graceful leap, a gesture reminiscent of classical depictions of nymphs and dancers. It is through such echoes that Lathrop’s illustration engages us, not just as viewers of a whimsical scene, but as participants in a timeless drama.