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The Arts Intel Report

Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature

Mrs. Rabbit pouring tea for Peter in The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter, 1902.

Feb 23 – June 9, 2024
225 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA

One never forgets Peter Rabbit. His brass buttons. His siblings Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-Tail. The fact that his father was put into a pie. Peter Rabbit is the creation of Beatrix Potter, who was born in London in 1866, and before writing children’s books worked in the field of mycology, illustrating fungi with watercolors. Potter’s family was well-off and nature-loving. She and her younger brother were taught by governesses and kept numerous small animals as pets, including her own rabbit, Peter Piper. In 1902, The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published and propelled Potter to worldwide stardom. After Peter Rabbit, she produced 23 more children’s stories, charming and beloved. In this exhibition, which originated at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, personal ephemera and stunning illustrations make for a fun jaunt. Don’t forget to bring the kids! —Elena Clavarino

Photo: © Victoria and Albert Museum/courtesy of Frederick Warne & Co.