Hop-O’-My-Thumb 1933

Arthur Rackham made this illustration for the tale of Hop-O’-My-Thumb, sometime in the early 20th century. Rackham, working in what was once called the Golden Age of Illustration, evokes a world of fairy tales. It’s a world where the shadows are deep and the stakes are high. Here, a group of children huddle in the rain, seeking shelter with a looming ogress. The gnarled and frightful figure of the ogress, lantern in hand, fills the doorway, as she appears to invite them in. Yet, the dark fairytale asks us, at what cost does she offer this shelter? Rackham’s illustration speaks to our fears, but it also acknowledges childhood's vulnerability and resilience. As we stand here, we might remember the stories we were told as children. Perhaps, we recognize how fairy tales helped us to understand our place in the world.