The Frogs and the Well 1912

Arthur Rackham made "The Frogs and the Well" using ink, and it's all about the process of mark-making. The stippling and cross-hatching give it this cool, almost tactile quality. Look at how Rackham uses the ink to build up the textures of the frogs' bumpy skin. It's like he's feeling his way through the forms with each little dot and line. The water below is rendered with swift, confident strokes, creating a sense of movement and depth. Check out the way the light catches the edges of the well – it's these tiny details that bring the whole scene to life. Rackham reminds me a bit of Aubrey Beardsley, both playing with line and form in such distinctive ways. This piece, like much of Rackham's work, invites us to get lost in the details and find new ways of seeing the world.