The book is illustrated by Robert Lawson an artist born in New York City who began illustrating in 1922. As I did more research on him, I discovered more beautiful illustrations that just make you have to stop and take a look. It is that 1920's style that I just love. It is so detailed that when you look closer and closer you can't help but find little pictures hidden inside little pictures, like a sleeping elf or the little dipper sitting in the sky.
Sweet Ferdinand
From Little Prince Toofat
3 comments:
Ferdinand was always one of my favorites, too! The thing I remember most about it were ( as almost all of my other storybooks were in full-late-70s-early-80s-overprint-color) the understated black and white illustrations. As you say, you can get lost in the drawings, and I don't think it would have been the same if they'd have been in color. I love the naivety of today's kid's books illustrations, but it's a shame that there isn't as much emphasis on beautifully rendered drawings as there once was.
I really wanted to find a picture of the "lovely ladies with the flowers in their hair" because that is my favorite picture. The detail in the matador and the banderilleros is pretty great too. I have book of 1920s children's illustration clip art that I can look at over and over again. You are right, the detail of the black and white drawings is amazing. I think that is why I like the Erte fashion designs so much as well.
My mom also had a little book from the 20s that was instructions on how to make costumes out of crepe paper. I looked at that little book over and over for years until it pretty much fell apart.
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