The giant Cormoran was the terror of all the country-side 1927

Arthur Rackham created this image to illustrate "Jack the Giant Killer," a folktale, during a time when the British Empire was expanding its reach. The image reflects anxieties about power, and the ‘other’. Here, we see the giant Cormoran, a figure of brute force, looming over a village, carrying livestock. The villagers, rendered small and fearful, are in stark contrast to the giant's dominating presence. Rackham's depiction plays into stereotypes of the monstrous outsider, reflecting the colonial era's demonization of foreign cultures. This image stirs deep questions about who gets to tell stories, and how these narratives shape our understanding of ourselves and others. It reflects a history of oppression and the power dynamics inherent in storytelling, and invites us to consider the emotional impact of such representations, and how they reinforce or challenge societal biases.