Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
The Velveteen Rabbit is a beloved enough children's book that it's been illustrated, over the years, by a wide variety of talented artists. From Maurice Sendak to Sarah Massini, everyone wants to get their hands—or their colored pencil, pen, or watercolors—on the Velveteen Rabbit.
But the O.G. illustrations of The Velveteen Rabbit came from William Nicholson. They're sparse, colored only in yellows and reds and greens, and filled with shadows. And if you said "Huh: "sparse, colored only in yellows and reds and greens, and filled with shadows" sounds pretty grim for a kid's book," well, you'd be right.
These illustrations aren't meant so much to be pored over as to convey emotions. And, like the content of the book itself, the emotions these illustrations convey are deep adult ones. Being Real isn't always a walk in the park, and the Real World as exhibited through Nicholson's illustrations is one filled with melancholy and nuance.