A Fairy 1899

Carl Larsson made this watercolor, A Fairy, in 1889. With its soft, translucent quality, watercolor lends itself beautifully to rendering fleeting, ethereal subjects like fairies. Look at the way Larsson has built up layers of thin washes to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The brushstrokes are delicate and fluid, almost mimicking the way light filters through leaves and grass. He coaxes the medium to its full potential, capturing the way in which the colors blend seamlessly. The subject matter resonates with the aesthetics of the Arts and Crafts movement, which placed value on nature and folklore, which moved away from mass production, celebrating individual craftsmanship. This is a far cry from the industrialization occurring at this time. Ultimately, Larsson's embrace of watercolor and its delicate beauty reflects a wider cultural yearning for simpler times. His craft is a testament to the power of art to transport us to another realm.