This illustration is the title page of Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market and other Poems,” second edition, which was created by none other than her brother, Dante Gabriel Rossetti. In this second edition's title page illustration, he corrected one of the jawlines of the sleeping sister to appear more feminine.
Dante Rossetti played a crucial role in the production of her publication, "Goblin Market and Other Poems." As a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelites, he had a particular interest in the interactions between words and images, and his influence is evident in the design and illustrations of the volume. He provided illustrations for the frontispiece and title page, advised on page size and paper type, and even designed the binding.
Christina Rossetti was aware of her brother's commercial savvy and artistic skill, and she preferred him as the illustrator of her works. Their collaborative spirit is evident in the detailed correspondence between the siblings and Alexander Macmillan (her publisher) about the production of "Goblin Market and Other Poems." The reason for this poem being illustrated over 20 times is because the “Goblins Market” publication has influenced book design and illustration from the mid-19th century to present day.
The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of Victorian artists and writers who drew inspiration from visual art and literature. They favored atmosphere and mood over narrative, focusing on medieval subjects, artistic introspection, female beauty, sexual yearning, and altered states of consciousness. While their work was generally devoid of the political edge that characterized much Victorian art and literature, it incorporated elements of 19th-century realism in its attention to detail and close observation of the natural world.
The title page illustration for "Goblin Market and Other Poems," is an excellent example of the Pre-Raphaelite style and its use of symbolism to convey meaning. The illustration features a scene from the poem, with two sleeping sisters lying in a field, surrounded by flowers and fruit. The figures are rendered in a highly stylized manner, with elongated limbs and flowing hair, and the overall composition is highly decorative and ornate, with intricate floral patterns and swirling lines.
The symbolism in the illustration is also typical of the Pre-Raphaelite approach to art. The flowers and fruit that surround the sleeping sisters represent the seductive and dangerous world of the goblins, while the sleeping sisters themselves suggest a kind of innocent vulnerability. The overall effect is dreamlike and otherworldly, evoking the mood and atmosphere of the poem itself.
Work Cited:
Roe, Dinah. “An Introduction to ‘Goblin Market.’” British Library, British Library, 15 May 2014,https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/an-introduction-to-goblin-market
Roe, Dinah. "The Pre-Raphaelites." British Library, British Library, 15 May 2014,https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/the-pre-raphaelites
Rossetti, Christina. "Goblin Market." 1862. Cove Studios,https://studio.covecollective.org/documents/goblin-market-750a5766-7768…, Accessed 12 March 2023