The artwork titled “When Puss saw the rats and mice she didn’t wait to be told” is an illustration by Arthur Rackham, belonging to the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. This piece is part of the artwork series “English Fairy Tales”. Rackham, renowned for his distinctive illustrative style, captures a whimsical and vivid scene that aligns with the fairy tale genre.
The artwork portrays an animated tableau of a cat, surrounded by a group of elaborately dressed individuals, possibly in an exotic or orientalist setting. The focus of the scene is a cat, poised and alert, moving towards an array of rats and mice that populate the foreground of the illustration. The individuals in the background appear to be engrossed in observing the cat’s actions, adding a sense of anticipation and urgency. The use of intricate linework and warm, muted colors are characteristic of Rackham’s style, creating a rich and textured visual narrative. The detail in both the human figures and the animals reflects a deep understanding of storytelling aesthetics, making this piece a remarkable example of early 20th-century illustration.