The artwork entitled “These tricky fairies sometimes change the board on a ball night” is a piece by the artist Arthur Rackham, belonging to the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. This illustration is part of the series “Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens”.
In the artwork, a whimsical scene is depicted in which mischievous fairies are engaged in altering a signboard. The fairies are intricately detailed, each exhibiting playful expressions and animated postures as they collaborate in the act of changing the sign. The background features a pastoral setting with bare-branched trees and a soft, almost sepia-toned landscape, creating a sense of enchantment typical of Rackham’s illustrative style. The overall composition exudes a magical charm, coupling the ethereal subject matter with the fluid, sinuous lines characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement.