Page Four of 'Flora's Feast', the Snowdrops

Category

Library Item

Item no

40129

Title

Page four of 'Flora's Feast', the Snowdrops

Description

Three figures dressed with armour made from snowdrops appear alert, whilst one brandishes a sword. The accompanying text reads:
"The snowdrops first upon the scene,
White-crested braved King Frost's demesne".

Artist / maker

Crane, Walter

Date

1902

Size

25.0 x 18.5 cm

Type

Publisher's print

Location

Art and Design Library

Crane notably altered the way in which specific flowers were evoked in art at the time, such as that of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Instead of focussing on the emotional and symbolic connotations applied to each individual type and colour of flower he draws attention to their specific structural and formal qualities and therefore dismisses any encryption in favour of accessibility for children (1). In this image of the Snowdrops we can readily see how Crane is using parts of flowers to evoke particular items of clothing. In this case, the typical snowdrop flower forms the helmet, while smaller petals evoke something like chainmail and a skirt. Crane is dissecting the flowers in a playful manner, so that they remain familiar but are presented in a whimsical way. Crane himself claimed that there was only imitative or imaginative art and he strove to produce the latter.

(1) Morna O'Neill, 'Walter Crane's Floral Fantasy: The Garden in Arts and Crafts Politics', Garden History, Vol.36, No.2 (2008), p.291.

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hair ornaments

Clothing and dress > Garments > Armour

Military > Arms and armament > Daggers and swords

People > Children > Groups

Plants > Flowers > Snowdrops

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