This is a handmade linocut print featuring woodland animals inspired by a folktale from Ukraine, retold by beloved children’s book author Jan Brett in her book The Mitten. The artwork includes various woodland animals: a bear, elk, duck, fox, marten, porcupine, rabbit and raccoon all trying to fit inside a mitten!

SIZE: print size 8" x 16"; paper size 12" x 20"

PAPER / INK VARIATIONS:

Option 1 is handprinted in raw umber (dark brown) Caligo safewash ink on either traditional handmade Hosho paper or Strathmore paper, both of which are archival quality. Hosho is a handmade cultural heritage paper from Japan crafted from natural materials. Strathmore Paper Mills are located in Massachusetts where my studio is, so for local and USA customers, this paper may be more eco-friendly than Hosho.

Option 2 is printed in burnt Sienna Caligo safewash ink on Arnhem printing paper, a heavier weight 100% rag, acid-free, pH neutral archival printmaking paper with vellum finish and deckled edges.

CUSTOM COLORS: You are more than welcome to request a custom color, it will take 3-5 days to print and dry before shopping.

STORY DETAILS:

This is a folktale about greediness and its limitations and how foresight and generosity can prevent future catastrophe. Versions of this story can be found in both Ukrainian folklore and in Abenaki folklore (from the Northeast Woodlands of the United States). In the Ukrainian version, some forest animals find a lost mitten and they all try to fit inside to stay warm only to discover they cannot all fit. The story is about limited resources and how important it is, given this reality, to extend kindness and generosity to others. In the Abenaki version, retold by Joseph Bruchac in his book Keepers of the Earth, the main character and his grandmother are hungry, so he goes hunting. However, he is greedy and deceives the animals telling them the world is ending and the only way they can survive is to get in his bag. In fear, the animals all run into his bag but when he returns home his grandmother is upset and says he must keep only the animals he needs to survive and releases the rest for the children of the future. Both stories are about the right thing to do when things are scarce. It matters less where the folktale originated. . .what is more important is how this folktale exists across cultural divides revealing the enduring human value in sharing the earth's resources that connects us all.

GIFT IDEAS: This would make a great gift for a wildlife or folklore lover, especially someone who values environmental conservation and this enduring and timeless theme in folklore around the world. It would also be a wonderful earth-friendly piece of wall decor for a children's bedroom or nursery room inspiring kids to value the earth's resources. This artwork could decorate a living room for a family that loves to spend time in the wild!

PACKAGING: This print will be carefully packed in a recycled clear bag and shipped in a recycled cardboard mailer from EcoEnclose. A one-page insert including a description of the folktale is included with the print.

Free Shipping within the USA. Ships out within 1-3 business days.

Flat rate international shipping for $35.00

Questions? Please feel free to email diemdangers@gmail.com or contact me here. you will get a response within 24 hours.

Please note that the copyright of this work is retained by the artist.