Artwork
Lady rabbit and gentleman rabbit passing on the street
Lady rabbit and gentleman rabbit passing on the street is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This watercolor shows a lady rabbit and a gentleman rabbit passing on the street. The gentleman holds mistletoe. It’s one of six designs Potter sold to a printer in 1890 to raise money for a printing press.
The scene was turned into holiday cards. Potter’s playful take on animal manners hints at the charm we’d later see in her Peter Rabbit books.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This watercolour by Beatrix Potter, created in 1890, depicts a chance encounter between a lady rabbit and a gentleman rabbit on the street, with the gentleman holding mistletoe. Originally designed for holiday cards, it showcases Potter's early illustrative style.
Subject & Meaning
The scene humorously explores animal etiquette, as a courteous gentleman rabbit, armed with mistletoe, intersects with a lady rabbit. This lighthearted portrayal of rabbit society prefigures the whimsical character interactions found in Potter's later children's books.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the piece demonstrates Potter's attention to animal anatomy, blending accuracy with playful, anthropomorphic elements. The style anticipates the illustrative approach she would refine in her Peter Rabbit series.
History & Provenance
Sold to printer Hildesheimer & Faulkner in 1890, along with five other designs, to help fund a printing machine for Potter and her brother Bertram, this work was reproduced as Christmas and New Year cards.
Context
Part of Potter's pre-Peter Rabbit output, this design reflects her early commercial ventures in illustration. Similar works by Potter can be found in collections like the Victoria and Albert Museum, highlighting her contribution to children's literature and illustration.
Artist & collection
Artist
Helen Beatrix Heelis (née Potter; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( BEE-ə-triks), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.
