Aladdin of de wonderlamp 1894 - 1959

This illustrated sheet of paper, *Aladdin of de wonderlamp*, probably produced as an illustration for a child’s book, uses a watercolour-like palette. It’s gentle, everything is in service of the narrative. It's this narrative aspect and the arrangement of different scenes that really grabs me. Each vignette is carefully framed, almost like a storyboard for a film, and there’s a real sense of movement, of a story unfolding before our eyes. Gordinne’s style is both delicate and precise. The use of fine lines and the muted color palette create a dreamlike quality. In the top left corner there’s a figure turning a large wheel, possibly at the beginning of the story - this scene has a wonderful sense of energy to it. This piece reminds me a little of early 20th-century folk art illustrations. There's something very charming in the way that Gordinne presents us with an adventure, inviting us to get lost in the magic of storytelling. It's a conversation and an exchange, one that keeps going.