What, indeed, could she do 1911

Arthur Rackham made this illustration, What, indeed, could she do, using ink and watercolour, and it’s all about the magic of line. The lines are so delicate, almost tentative, like he’s feeling his way through the story, letting it unfold as he draws. Look at the way he renders the figures clinging to the rock face. There's a real sense of depth and texture. You can almost feel the roughness of the stone, the desperation in the figures pose. And the colours! Earthy tones, muted browns and greens, with a touch of whimsy in the background landscape. The wash of watercolor gives it this dreamlike quality, like a memory half-forgotten. It reminds me a little of Kay Nielsen, who also had a way of making the fantastical feel so tangible. Like all great art, this illustration feels like it could change every time you look at it.