Off with her head 1907

Curator: "Off with her head!" created in 1907 by Charles Robinson. The medium appears to be coloured pencil on paper. Quite a scene, isn't it? Editor: Yes, an explosive temper captured in crayon, I’d say! There’s a feverish quality in that insistent red. It reminds me of being a child and discovering Alice in Wonderland. What a trip! Curator: I find the visual construction interesting. Robinson uses relatively simple techniques – coloured pencil and watercolor washes, most likely – to achieve an intriguing effect, particularly within the context of book illustration, where the reproduction process dictates the accessibility and affordability. Editor: "Accessibility" is an interesting choice of words considering it depicts royal outrage directed at little Alice. The flat perspective, bold outlines...there's an intentionally manufactured aesthetic here, almost like theatre design. The Queen, of course, a walking playing card ready to burst. Curator: Precisely. The composition reinforces social and hierarchical dynamics through the strategic arrangement and costuming of the figures, and use of colour. What’s particularly relevant here is that Robinson was working during the Arts and Crafts Movement, where there was an emphasis on the handcrafted, and a distinct aesthetic that rejected industrial mass production. Editor: The handmade comes through beautifully! All those little hearts on her dress feel stitched with rebellious intent. It’s the kind of piece that reminds us that even madness has a method, and that fairytales often tell grim truths. Curator: Indeed, it brings into sharp relief the social anxieties prevalent at the time. But, beyond that, considering the mode of its production, it's remarkable to note its capacity for continuous circulation and influence. Editor: Yes. Looking at the materials, it's also incredible how Robinson created such enduring intensity with so little—it almost seems to mock grandiosity. Curator: Absolutely. The means of making this work mirror the very issues they depict. Thank you for that observation. Editor: Thank you. It's like glimpsing our childhood dreams… or perhaps, nightmares… re-emerge with a knowing wink.