Flee the Bee! 

Gerda Wegener made this artwork, “Flee the Bee!” using watercolor and pencil. It depicts a scene of leisure and perhaps even a bit of panic among socialites, using a blend of delicate lines and soft washes of color. What interests me most is the way Wegener balances fine art technique with the commercial appeal needed for illustration. The figures are rendered with a light touch, yet the overall composition suggests it was made quickly and efficiently. There is a sense of implied luxury here, in the women's dresses and the suggestion of outdoor leisure. But the materials themselves, watercolor and pencil, are relatively inexpensive and were used in many forms of commercial art. The artist's technique allows for multiple reproductions. By combining traditional artistic skill with techniques more aligned with mass production, Wegener blurs the boundaries between art and commerce. This reminds us that all art is made, and every technique conveys its own cultural values.