Fortune and the Boy 1908

This piece, Fortune and the Boy, was made by Walter Crane, but the date is unknown. The palette is limited, with soft blues, reds and yellows, but the graphic sensibility gives it a strong presence. It’s as if the whole thing was built up with little marks, each one carefully considered, and that process gives the image its strength. You can really feel the physical quality of the materials, especially the contrast between the flat areas of color and the intricate linework. The textures feel almost tangible. Look at the way the folds in Fortune's dress are rendered; the delicate lines make it seem as though you could reach out and touch the fabric. Then there's the wheel of fortune behind them, each spoke precisely drawn, lending an almost mechanical feel to the allegory. There’s something of William Blake about Crane, perhaps, though he lacks Blake’s visionary intensity. Ultimately, it reminds me that art is a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas across time and space.