Philammon Among the Goths. Illustration from a 1914 Edition of Charles Kingsley's 1853 Novel Hypatia 1914

This illustration of Philammon among the Goths was made by Byam Shaw, for Charles Kingsley's novel, "Hypatia". I just love to imagine the artist working on this piece, sitting at his desk with pen and ink! I mean, all that hatching and cross-hatching! It must have been an incredible feat of patience. Look at how he uses the density of the lines to create depth and shadow. Do you get the sense that there's a real story unfolding here? I think this piece is fascinating, because it comes from a long tradition of artists illustrating literary works. Visual artists are always in conversation with other disciplines, like literature, music, or philosophy. It is as if Byam Shaw is saying, "Here's my take on this dramatic moment!" And with every stroke of his pen, he invites us to imagine, interpret, and engage with the story in our own way.