‘How doth the Little Busy Bee’, by Georgie Gaskin [Georgina Cave France]

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How doth the Little Busy Bee

Georgie Gaskin

Photo-mechanical reproduction of coloured wood block engravings by Edmund Evans

3½ x 2¾ inches

Watts, Isaac. Divine and Moral Songs, facing 31.

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A greatly simplified composition which balances narrative (the productive bees, improving ‘each shining hour’ as a model for behaviour), with the decorative qualities of abstracted flowers and a flattened background. The effect, once again, looks like Art Nouveau harmonizing a sentimental subject with a radical style which breaks loose from the congestion of Arts and Crafts.

Bibliography

Watts, Isaac. Divine and Moral Songs. London: Elkin Matthews, 1896.

Created 30 July 2020