The Tailor of Gloucester at Work 1902

Beatrix Potter made this illustration of a tailor at work with watercolor and ink. Look at the way she builds up the layers of the image, almost like fabric. See how the colors are mixed with water so you can still see the strokes of the pen underneath? It’s like she’s sketching with paint. The tailor is hunched over his work, completely absorbed, his world made of cloth and thread. There's a real sense of intimacy here, almost like we're intruding on a private moment. It reminds me of Bonnard, the way he captured quiet domestic scenes. And those little mice, scurrying around, are they helping or hindering? Potter leaves it open. She understands that art is not about answers, but about asking the right questions, and letting the viewer create their own story.