Illustration for Down-Adown-Derry 

Editor: Okay, next up we have an illustration by Dorothy Lathrop, called "Illustration for Down-Adown-Derry," and rendered with ink on paper. It feels like a glimpse into a dream. All stark blacks and whites, and this figure riding a horse right up to the moon. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Oh, I love how Lathrop turns the night sky into an enchanted ocean, doesn't she? The rider, almost spectral, slicing through constellations. For me, it whispers of childhood fantasies, those late-night stories where the impossible became real. Do you feel any specific narrative tugging at you when you look at it? Editor: Definitely, it’s like a scene from a fairy tale I can't quite place. The stark contrast and fantastical elements makes it almost surreal. It really evokes feelings of mystery. It almost looks Art Deco somehow... but otherworldly! Curator: Absolutely, a gorgeous push and pull of tension with echoes of Art Deco simplicity! Think of the children’s book illustrations of the time, that desire for a simpler time or the possibility for wonder... Does it change your impression if I point out Lathrop later won a Caldecott Medal? Knowing that her legacy became tied to works explicitly made for children? Editor: That totally re-frames it. It still has a dark beauty, but I see how the whimsy makes it accessible to a child's imagination. Curator: Right? It becomes an invitation rather than a statement. Art... constantly shape-shifting with perspective. Thanks, now I'm thinking of stargazing as a kid. What a journey, even in memory. Editor: Thanks to you too. It's amazing how context can totally transform the way we perceive a piece of art. It’s more than just an image; it's a vessel for stories and memories!