Wonderful essay! Thank you! I had no idea about the ciphers. The Morgan Library in NYC has showcased her work intermittently for years, most recently this past winter. They do an extraordinary job capturing Potter's magic.
I’m *such* a Potter tragic. She’s an incredibly admirable figure on so many fronts: creative, kind, scientific, observant, and a saviour of natural landscapes!
My maiden name was Potter and so I spent much of my childhood reading her books, dabbling in watercolour, and wishing to meet her/become her. My ultimate travel dream is to visit her house and sit for awhile in her garden.
Incredible. I find these notes fascinating. To have the time to cipher notes is a dream. I particularly like her end of note taking and reflection on "What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood." The two almost seem to go hand in hand.
Excellent. The usual image of Beatrix Potter is so one-dimensional but she was a multi-talented and multi-faceted woman who won the respect of her fellow Lakeland farmers (which isn’t bestowed lightly) and did much to preserve the Herdwick breed of sheep.
What a delightful essay! This fascinating biographical context helps me appreciate one of my favorite childhood authors with a much deeper respect for her interdisciplinary pursuits, intellectual curiosity, and her rootedness in nature’s beauty. No wonder her works have become canonical treasures with her level of investment & intentionality in her artistic process!
As an English teacher, the handwriting in that first image brings me out in the sweats! There's one in every class 😂 I loved this by the way, really fascinating ♥️
Fascinating. I used to dislike her illustrations as a child because they seemed too grown-up and boring (aka lacking bright colors). Knowing they were her own sketches of animal life makes me appreciate them differently as an adult.
What a wonderful insight. I was captivated by her illustrations when I spotted them in a piece for The Marginalian. I’m so glad you reshared your piece. I arrived at your work after it debuted so I get to see it for the first time. Lovely stuff.
What a way to start my day! This is just incredible. coding her notes and being able to do it as second nature?! Wow. Such an incredible read. Thank you so much for sharing this. The process of her practice of sketching of the mouse, pig and Squirrel Nutkin, Amazing!
Wonderful essay! Thank you! I had no idea about the ciphers. The Morgan Library in NYC has showcased her work intermittently for years, most recently this past winter. They do an extraordinary job capturing Potter's magic.
https://www.themorgan.org/exhibitions/drawn-to-nature
Thanks! I know--I love the Morgan's exhibits!
Ha! I was sure you'd seen🥰
I’m *such* a Potter tragic. She’s an incredibly admirable figure on so many fronts: creative, kind, scientific, observant, and a saviour of natural landscapes!
Thank you for diving I to her notebooks 📔
Delightful! Thank you for sharing some of her notes and sketches. I grew up on her books and her watercolors always enchanted me.
Oh, enchantment is the perfect word!
So inspiring! I feel such camaraderie as a fellow plant presser.
I love that you're a plant presser too!
My maiden name was Potter and so I spent much of my childhood reading her books, dabbling in watercolour, and wishing to meet her/become her. My ultimate travel dream is to visit her house and sit for awhile in her garden.
I spent a lot of time with Herman Hesse's novels for the same reason (similar last name). His works are magical too, but in a totally different way.
Incredible. I find these notes fascinating. To have the time to cipher notes is a dream. I particularly like her end of note taking and reflection on "What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit-world of childhood." The two almost seem to go hand in hand.
I know! I wish I had developed a secret cipher when I was younger.
Excellent. The usual image of Beatrix Potter is so one-dimensional but she was a multi-talented and multi-faceted woman who won the respect of her fellow Lakeland farmers (which isn’t bestowed lightly) and did much to preserve the Herdwick breed of sheep.
Yes, I wish I had more time to explore her environmentalist work too. Perhaps I'll write a part 2 some day.
What a delightful essay! This fascinating biographical context helps me appreciate one of my favorite childhood authors with a much deeper respect for her interdisciplinary pursuits, intellectual curiosity, and her rootedness in nature’s beauty. No wonder her works have become canonical treasures with her level of investment & intentionality in her artistic process!
Thank you! That means a lot to me!
As an English teacher, the handwriting in that first image brings me out in the sweats! There's one in every class 😂 I loved this by the way, really fascinating ♥️
I know the feeling! I've spent waaayyy too much time with difficult handwriting.
This made me inordinately happy. Cheered up a blah afternoon--thanks!
Your comment made me very happy! So, thank you!
Fascinating. I used to dislike her illustrations as a child because they seemed too grown-up and boring (aka lacking bright colors). Knowing they were her own sketches of animal life makes me appreciate them differently as an adult.
Totally! It's so interesting how we can see the same image differently given a bit more context.
What a wonderful insight. I was captivated by her illustrations when I spotted them in a piece for The Marginalian. I’m so glad you reshared your piece. I arrived at your work after it debuted so I get to see it for the first time. Lovely stuff.
https://www.themarginalian.org/2015/07/28/beatrix-potter-a-life-in-nature-botany-mycology-fungi/
Maria Popova is the best! Gosh, I love her writing.
I learn SO much as I nose about in The Marginalian. Such a banquet for curiosity!
I love the look of her drawings AND her handwriting.
Yes! They go well together.
What a way to start my day! This is just incredible. coding her notes and being able to do it as second nature?! Wow. Such an incredible read. Thank you so much for sharing this. The process of her practice of sketching of the mouse, pig and Squirrel Nutkin, Amazing!
Glad you thought so too! Her process was magical.
Thanks for sharing! Nice drawings.
Merci beaucoup pour cette nouvelle découverte, j'aime tellement Noted que je garde les newletters et m'y replonge regulièrement !
Merci!