The Princess and the Goblin 1920

Jessie Willcox Smith created this scene from "The Princess and the Goblin" with paint and ink, conjuring a shadowy world of subterranean labor. The limited palette of grays and browns gives it a sense of old-world mystery. It's like she's inviting us into a secret, dimly lit space. Looking closely, you can see how she builds up the image with layers of delicate lines and washes. The texture of the paper peeks through, reminding us of the physical act of drawing. Notice the way she uses tiny, precise strokes to define the goblins' faces, contrasting with the looser, more gestural marks that describe the rocky walls of the mine. That little lantern flickering overhead, surrounded by darkness, it's like a metaphor for hope, or maybe just the stubborn persistence of work. You could compare Smith to Arthur Rackham. They both shared a love for the fantastical, but Smith brings a uniquely American sensibility to her fairy-tale scenes. Art is just an ongoing exchange of ideas and inspirations.