The Lion and the Mouse 

Here we see Scott Gustafson's take on "The Lion and the Mouse". This illustration plunges us into a drama of scale and texture. The lion’s face, filling much of the frame, looms with a soft, almost docile expression, framed by the coarse texture of thick ropes. This creates a visual tension between vulnerability and raw power. Gustafson masterfully uses size to challenge our expectations. The tiny mouse, perched confidently on the rope, becomes an unlikely hero through its proximity to the lion's massive head. The ropes themselves form a grid, a visual cage that speaks to themes of captivity and freedom, where the strong are bound and the small can set them free. The artwork’s composition invites us to question fixed roles, suggesting that strength and power are not always what they seem. It is in this interplay of elements that Gustafson enriches the narrative, transforming a simple fable into an exploration of inter-dependency.