The illustration “She began nursing her child again singing a sort of lullaby to it” by Charles Robinson was created in 1907 as part of the Art Nouveau movement. The piece is a genre illustration from the series “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll, published the same year. It captures a moment from the famous children’s story, stylized according to the artistic conventions of the early 20th century.
The artwork depicts an elderly figure with a crown, bent over a child who is apparently nursing and being comforted with a lullaby. The elderly person is dressed in garments with a detailed collar and a crown that seems worn and slightly askew, giving a sense of a once-noble status that’s now past its prime. The baby, on the other hand, has a look of surprise or shock, with its mouth wide open as if mid-cry or in the act of nursing.
The style reflects the Art Nouveau taste for curvilinear forms and a certain sense of movement and fluidity, as evidenced in the flowing lines of the garments and the rounded forms of the figures. The color palette is bold, with deep and vibrant tones that draw the eye to the interaction between the two characters. The facial expressions are exaggerated, almost caricature-like, which adds a sense of whimsy and drama to the scene. The background is minimalist, with a hint of decorative elements that do not distract from the main subjects.
Overall, this artwork clearly conveys a narrative moment drawn from the famous literary work, rich with emotion and the distinctive stylistic elements of its time.
