The Fairy Circus 1931

Dorothy Lathrop made this illustration of a fairy circus using ink, and I love the way she made the black and white sing. It's all about the line work, right? I mean, look at how the spiderweb is constructed, each strand carefully placed to create this delicate but strong structure. The texture is incredible, a real back and forth between light and dark. See how the stippling effect creates a sense of depth, almost like a starry night sky, and there are all these gorgeous little glowing orbs. I love how the fairies stand out in stark contrast to the background, their poses full of movement and lightness. There is one fairy reaching up, and the way she tilts her head back—it just feels hopeful, don't you think? It reminds me a little bit of Aubrey Beardsley, but with a gentler touch. Lathrop invites us into a world of fantasy, a reminder that art is a conversation across time.