The king questions Furball about the golden spinning wheel found in his bowl of soup 1921

Margaret Evans Price made this illustration, "The King questions Furball about the golden spinning wheel found in his bowl of soup," with what looks like watercolour and ink. I love the way she teases out the fairytale narrative using a limited palette. The textures are so delicately rendered; the scratchy lines of Furball's strange coat, the soft fur trim of the King’s blue robe, and the detailed tablecloth all create a dreamlike world. My eye is drawn to the King’s hand. The gold ring on his finger seems to hold all the secrets, its simple shape echoing the golden spinning wheel mentioned in the title. Is he suspicious, or simply curious? Price reminds me of Jessie Willcox Smith; their shared interest in illustrating children’s stories, focusing on the emotional resonance of colour and line rather than aiming for realism. Ultimately, art is a conversation, isn't it? A story we keep retelling in new and unexpected ways.