While the Kettle Boils

Once again I'm on a tough deadline. For a while, what I post will have minimal explanation. But you're not here for the words, are you?

Harrison Cady — While the Kettle Boils — 1911

Heresy

I know this is heresy, but Maxfield Parrish is NOT one of my favorite golden age illustrators. Maybe it 's over-exposure that limits my appreciation, and don't get me wrong—his work has many high water marks, yet in general I like a lot of other illustrators' work more. But this illustration by Parrish is intriguing for its technique and its wealth of content in such a small space.

This is the original art for one of the illustrations from Kenneth Grahame's 'The Golden Age', an 1899 book. The art is black and gray wash, with white gouache touches, over graphite on beige wove paper. The inscription, by the artist, says:

"Alarums and Excursions." — Once again were damsels rescued, dragons disembowelled, and giants . . . etc.

Spectrum of Style

To me, Frank Pape's work is a joy to behold, yet it's interesting how his style runs a spectrum even within one book. His illustrations for a 1926 edition of Thaïs by Anatole France — as seen here — are dramatic, decorative, sensual AND humorous. His work is somewhat comparable to Willy Pogany.

I'm probably nuts, but looking at this work, I see a possibly huge inspiration on Mad Magazine's genius artist Will Elder, especially his early stuff. I'll post one of those next time, just to compare.

Anyway, Frank Papé should be an inspiration to many.

'Lovely' Tales

I know I use the word 'lovely' many many times, only because that's what so many images are . . . lovely, that is.

As here, a title page by Reginald Knowles for a 1910 edition of Tales from the Norse. The border treatment appears to be heavily influenced by Walter Crane et William Morris.

A Small Landmark

Here's the snarly old man again:

Used to be that paperback books were really interesting . . .

and really cheap!

I haven't bought a new paperback book for quite a few years now. Do they even still sell em, cuz I haven't even had an interest in glancing at a rack. Who wants to spend 5 bucks or more on insipid works that will just be tossed into the next yard sale?

Ah, the good ol' daze when you'd get two complete novels for 35 cents, and a nifty Norman Saunders cover to boot:

Really Old Days

In the really old days of the early 20th century, kids didn't have comic books. Sure they had dime novels and such, but they also had real books to capture their imagination.

Eh, pardon an old fart as he waxes nostalgic for the days well before his time.

Tales from the Mahabharata

Some golden age illustrators dwell in the moon-lit shadows of appreciation rather than the rosy sunshine bask of others. Frank Papé (pronounced pawPAY) is one such. Much of his work is intriguing and satisfying, but he's on the teetering edge of obscurity.

I have several more of his books, but let's start with this little number, Tales from the Mahabharata, a 1924 edition.

To read a short but interesting bio about Papé, click here.

A Pretty Little Volume

These are some Georges Barbier illustrations from a pretty little volume entitled The Romance of Perfume, from 1928, containing some interesting text as well.

Yumpin' Yiminy

Speaking of books — yumpin' Yiminy Crickets, I'd love to own an edition of Pinocchio that looked like this:

Meanwhile, the Disney version of the story had some of the best production and pre-production art ever created for a film.

Volume of Treasures

Speaking of books, check out the hefty volume that this model is perusing in a watercolor by Sir William Russell Flint.

The book was an actual prop, at this size, in his studio. The model was holding a difficult pose and got interested in what she was gazing at, and wanted to turn the pages. But Flint wouldn't let her because that would disturb the pose. Now there's an advantage for using a camera, but Flint wouldn't hear of it.

Sir William Russell Flint — Janelle and the Volume of Treasures — 1960

Autumn Interlude

The only way I can keep up with posts right now is to jump around from subject to subject, with no theme in mind. Please bear with me.

The Brothers Robinson, that family of illustrators, are phenomenal—this image from early 1900s by Charles Robinson, is entitled Autumn Interlude.

Candle-Lightin' Time

I am smitten by the design of this 1901 cover by Margaret Armstrong. Her interior art nouveau decorations accompany the African-American dialect poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar, the son of former slaves, who earned international acclaim as a poet.