Beatrix and Walt

Looking at a compilation of the works of Beatrix Potter (circa 1900), I'm taken by the pleasurably detailed illustrations. Her artistry is superb, and the content of her illustrations if quite a treasure of the trivia of bygone days in England. The characters of the tales she chooses to illustrate include mice and rabbits, sparrows and laboring tailors. Her art is very realistic (in contrast to more cartoon-like children's books). The blackbirds flock to visit the simple scarecrow the farmer makes by hanging his coat in the breeze. The tailor works with fabrics of lace and satin, cloth embroidered with birds and flowers. When his energy fails, the mice take over the sewing while he sleeps, and they stitch dozens of buttonholes. There's a sense that the artist was very familiar with birds and mice, she creates such genuine connection between the beasts and the reader.

I wonder if Walt Disney had any of Potter's books when he was a child. His feature-length cartoon musicals were filled with animated creatures - spirited, and aware, whether mischievous or helpful. I was always drawn to the beginning of Cinderella, with the mice and birds singing as they created a dress for Cinderella to wear to the ball. It's possible he was passing down a tradition of fairy tales and children's stories (in the new medium of animated film), where the cats and humans and fish and rabbits and crickets share the stage, share the humor, tragedies, and wonder of life.