Betwixt-and-Between, Etching, 7 inch x 5 inch

"Betwixt-and-Between" by Larry Vienneau

Etching, 5 inch x 7 inch 2023

Peter Pan is a seven-day-old infant. All children begin life as birds until Solomon Caw sends them out to expecting mothers, where they become human children. Solomon is fond of Peter; he passes on as much wisdom to him as possible. Peter is still young enough that he is still half-bird and therefore has complete belief in his ability to fly. He escapes his home by flying out through the open window and arrives in Kensington Gardens. He realizes that he is no longer a bird, and he loses the ability to fly because once you doubt your ability to fly, you can no longer do it. Solomon Caw tells him that he is not still a bird, but more like a human – Solomon says he is a cross between them as a "Betwixt-and-Between".

Peter Pan is loosely based on a Roman myth about a shipwrecked infant raised by crows, like the Romulus and Remus story.

Pan (Peter?) is the god of all wild things, nature, hunting, and music, as well as the companion of the nymphs. He is the only Greek god who dies whereas Peter never grows old. Solomon (Caw?) is King of Israel famous for his wisdom and his architectural projects, including the Temple in Jerusalem.

"Then I shan't be exactly a human?" Peter asked Solomon Caw.

"No."

"Nor exactly a bird?"

"No."

"What shall I be?"

"You will be a Betwixt-and-Between," Solomon said, and certainly he was a wise old fellow, for that is exactly how it turned out.

Solomon Caw's warning to Peter Pan
The Little White Bird – J.M. Barrie 1902

Prequel to Peter Pan