Narcissus by the Pool; illustration for Oscar Wilde's 'The Disciple' c. 1890 - 1924

Charles Ricketts made this illustration for Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Disciple’ sometime in the late 19th, early 20th century. It’s a drawing that embraces the idea of artmaking as a process, almost like sketching thoughts straight from the mind. There’s a delicacy to the lines, a lightness of touch, especially in the way the figures are rendered. It’s almost as if Ricketts is inviting us to peek into the private, interior world of Narcissus. The textures are created through fine lines, a kind of visual whispering that makes you lean in close. I’m drawn to the cascading lines that suggest flowing water. They remind me of art nouveau, but there's something unique in the way Ricketts handles them. This drawing echoes Aubrey Beardsley's work, but with a softer edge. Both artists play with form and content, but Ricketts has a certain vulnerability in his work. Art is a continuous dialogue, where artists converse through their work. Ultimately, Ricketts seems to say that art is more about suggestion than statement, embracing the multiple layers of meaning, and acknowledging that there's always more than one way to see.