Artwork
Illustration to 'Beauty and the Beast'
Illustration to 'Beauty and the Beast' is a watercolor work on paper by the Post-Impressionist artist Edmund Dulac. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This watercolour illustration by Edmund Dulac accompanies the text of *Beauty and the Beast* in a 1910 edition of *The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales*, retold by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch and published by Hodder & Stoughton in London.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration portrays a pivotal encounter: a woman, elegantly dressed and holding a large fan, meets a noble lady (implied by context, though the lady is not depicted here). A blue fairy draws back a canopy, framing the scene beside a luxurious, curtained bed with gold accents.
Technique & Style
Dulac employed watercolour to achieve a dreamy, lightweight atmosphere, characterized by soft palettes of pale blue and gray. Subtle gold highlights on the bed's decorations and the nuanced, three-dimensional rendering of the woman's sparkly, ruffled dress demonstrate his mastery of the medium.
History & Provenance
Created for *The Sleeping Beauty and other fairy tales* (1910), this illustration is part of Dulac's contributions to the book, published in London by Hodder & Stoughton.
Context
This work is emblematic of Dulac's prolific output as a fairy-tale illustrator during the early 20th century, a period seeing a resurgence in interest in illustrated children's literature.
Legacy
Edmund Dulac's illustrations, including this piece, remain celebrated for their delicate beauty and contribution to the visual canon of classic fairy tales, encouraging viewers to explore his broader oeuvre in the genre.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Edmund Dulac was a French-British naturalised magazine illustrator, book illustrator and stamp designer.
