The Moon and her Mother 1912

Arthur Rackham conjured up "The Moon and her Mother," using ink and watercolor, a pairing that allows for both precision and dreamy washes of color. It's like he's painting with twilight. Look at how the figures emerge from the misty grays and blues, colors that speak of mystery and the subconscious. The moon, so young and curious, contrasted with the mother, a figure woven from cloud and shadow, busy with her needlework. I wonder if Rackham felt like that mother sometimes, endlessly crafting worlds with his pen and brush? I feel Rackham's world is a bit like Paula Rego's, creating uncanny scenes with strange figures. Artists have always borrowed from myths and fairy tales, right? Rackham is a master of these dark narratives, reminding us that stories are never just stories, they're mirrors reflecting our own fears and hopes back at us.