A Girl Watering Her Garden - Friendship Greeting Card

INSIDE GREETING: Please come into my garden, I'd like my flowers to meet you.

The familiar lines of "Mary, Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow? Silver bells and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row" come to life through Jessie Willcox Smith's artistry in The Little Mother Goose (1912). This charming illustration captures the essence of the classic rhyme, depicting the very Mary referenced, alongside her whimsical garden. Upon closer inspection, one can discern delicate bells, shells, and charming little dolls growing amidst the flowers! See this image as an art print!

Jessie Willcox Smith (1863-1935), a cherished name at Laughing Elephant, wields a remarkable artistic legacy. Mentored by Howard Pyle, an illustrious influence, she emerged as a formidable woman artist in the Golden Age of Illustration, defying norms in a male-dominated realm—she was among the highest-paid illustrators of her time! Beyond canvas, she left her mark on nearly 200 Good Housekeeping magazine covers, while also gracing classic children's books and creating artistic ads for iconic brands like Ivory Soap and Kodak. Sensitivity to human experience defined her work, and her idealized images endure as motherhood and childhood archetypes.

This product was custom designed and created at our location in Seattle.

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