This piece is based around a 13th century poem translated from Middle English which lists 77 different names given to the hare. I highly recommend reading the full poem, you can find it at silentearth.org.

On finding this poem I couldn’t resist bringing some of these playful names to life as a charming example of this animal’s deep-rooted symbolism in both old English culture and religions.

The sketches are displayed in an old entomology specimen drawer from the natural history museum.