The Fairy Circus 1931

Dorothy Lathrop’s The Fairy Circus presents a detailed view into a world of fantasy. The artwork comes from a period when illustrated children's books saw an increased desire for escapism, in the wake of industrial growth and social change. Lathrop creates a small world reflecting larger societal structures through hierarchies among the fairy folk and their animal companions. It’s hard not to see the resonance of class dynamics within the fairy world. The book’s fairies ride upon animals from mice to turtles, reflecting a range of roles and status within the circus community. Lathrop who won the Caldecott Medal in 1938, used her art to connect with both the wonder and quietude of nature. In her work, Lathrop invites viewers into a space where the lines between the natural world and imaginative play blur. The details create an experience of entering an enchanted, personal, yet collectively recognizable space.