Buy from Us with a Golden Curl (frontispiece to "Goblin Market and other Poems" by Christina Rossetti)

In this intricate wood engraving, two young women, Lizzie and Laura, lean in close, their faces framed by a cascade of long, flowing hair. One sister gently offers a lock of her golden hair to the other, who gazes at it with a mixture of longing and apprehension. This image serves as the frontispiece for Christina Rossetti's famous poem, "Goblin Market and other Poems," published in 1862. It captures the poem's central theme of sisterly love and sacrifice in the face of temptation. The detailed lines and strong contrasts of the wood engraving technique emphasize the delicate features of the sisters and the texture of their hair, drawing the viewer into their intimate moment. The style reflects the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood's interest in medievalism and detailed, symbolic narratives.