Artwork
The Rabbits' Christmas Party: The Arrival
The Rabbits' Christmas Party: The Arrival is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Beatrix Potter. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Rabbits' Christmas Party: The Arrival is a watercolour by Beatrix Potter, part of a narrative series of four works depicting a rabbits' Christmas celebration. This piece shows the initial scene of the story.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork illustrates five rabbits, dressed in blue coats and carrying umbrellas, arriving at a Christmas party amidst wintry weather. Three additional rabbits observe their arrival from a window, setting the social tone for the gathering.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolour, the piece showcases Potter's characteristic attention to detail in both the natural setting and the anthropomorphized rabbits. A noted, though unlikely, stylistic comparison has been drawn to Renoir's Les Parapluies.
History & Provenance
Potter gifted the four-watercolour series to her aunt, Lucy Roscoe. This and three related works are part of the Linder Bequest at the V&A, with two additional, related scenes known separately.
Context
Created during Potter's prolific period (1901-1913) of writing and illustrating the Original Peter Rabbit Books, this work reflects her popular theme of anthropomorphized animal characters in everyday situations.
Legacy
As part of Potter's beloved and enduring body of work, The Rabbits' Christmas Party series contributes to her lasting impact on children's literature and illustration.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Helen Beatrix Heelis (née Potter; 28 July 1866 – 22 December 1943), usually known as Beatrix Potter ( BEE-ə-triks), was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.
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