One of the many wonderful artists who worked for the postcard company Prang, created this lovely drawing of a honey bee and cherry blossoms. Prang employed many women and this artist was also in a position of leadership within the company. Olive E. Whitney may have created this piece in September of 1886. I haven’t found a great deal of information on Whitney but there are records of an artist Olive E. Whitney passing away in 1903.
The dates involved make it fairly certain that this work is in the public domain everywhere but you’re on your own with this one if you use it publicly or commercially.
It reminds me a bit of Japanese art. It has a certain simplicity through the apparently use of a limited palette. The bee is clearly the star, yet remove him from the drawing and it would still be beautiful but, certainly, not as interesting.
This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown.
