A Palace of Wonder - from Beauty and the Beast 

Edmund Dulac painted ‘A Palace of Wonder – from Beauty and the Beast’ using watercolor and gouache on paper. The translucent watercolor allows the white of the paper to shine through, giving the image an ethereal glow, while the opaque gouache adds depth and richness to the colors. Look at the luxurious fabrics, the sheen of the metalwork, and the vibrant spread of food. Each element is rendered with meticulous detail, showcasing the artist's mastery of these materials. Dulac worked during the Golden Age of Illustration, when advances in printing technology allowed for the widespread distribution of high-quality color images. This democratized access to art, bringing it into homes and popular culture. The incredible amount of work involved speaks to the Industrial Revolution, when people would buy images like this as opposed to commissioning them. The work reminds us to consider the labor and processes involved in creating art, whether it is a painting or a mass-produced illustration.