The Arabian Nights: The ship struck upon a rock 

Edmund Dulac, a French-born British naturalized artist, made this watercolor illustration for *The Arabian Nights* using traditional techniques. Dulac’s skilled handling of watercolor is evident in the washes of colour that capture the churning sea. The material qualities of paint and paper are critical. Notice the thinness of the watercolor, allowing light to penetrate and reflect from the white paper beneath. This lends luminosity to the turbulent waves, and a contrasting darkness to the rocks. This visual effect is achieved through the artist's mastery and traditional knowledge of the medium. Dulac's illustration invites us to consider the labor involved in bringing stories to life. He skillfully used craft and imagination to transport viewers to the world of *The Arabian Nights*. By recognizing the skill involved in producing the painting, we can move beyond conventional hierarchies of art, acknowledging the depth of meaning in crafted images.