Pictures from an Old Book

The highly idiosyncratic and intriguing work of British illustrator Richard Beards. Not much information about the artist on the web but there are dozens of examples of his work on his website: http://www.richardbeards.com/engine/foliosite.html He has illustrated some more titles for The Folio Society books but he worked in France for many years so his work is not very easy to find.

I loved the detailed work on this cover as soon as I saw it. It must be over a hundred years old - late 19th, possibly early 20th century. John Leighton (1822-1912) was indeed a renowned artist for his book illustrations and covers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Leighton_(artist)

"Rind", 1955
Wood engraving in four colours

"Moebius Strip II", 1963
Wood engraving in three colours

Cover: "Depth", 1955 - Wood engraving and woodcut in two colours

"Sky and Water II", 1938 - Woodcut

"Sky and Water I", 1938 - woodcut

Maurits Cornelis Escher (Netherlands, 1898-1972) is one of the best known graphic artists of the 20th century - most people would be familiar with works such as "Relativity" (1953) and "Waterfall" (1961). I particularly like his pattern works and the way one object gradually changes - methodically and with precision - into another. The artist's official website is: http://www.mcescher.com/ It's got an extensive collection of his works and you could even purchase some of the prints (modern copies I imagine - not the originals). I was annoyed to find out that there was an exhibition of Escher's work in Edinburgh but it finished last month and I missed it! It's now moved to Dulwich Picture Gallery in London. For further biography and links this is the wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._C._Escher

Powerful pictures by Alice and Martin Provensen illustrating Homer's epic stories full of action, drama and violence. The famous American couple worked together since the 1940's producing dozens of children's books. I featured another one of their books earlier this year - the link here
There is also a short biography on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_and_Martin_Provensen

A few more from the beautiful and dynamic pictures by the famous husband and wife illustrating team - Alice and Martin Provensen. Strongly influenced by the Ancient Greek pottery imagery of course but they also remind me traditional Japanese prints with the flatness of the figures and the graphic representation of trees and animals.

"The Cock and The Hen"

This book is a collection of modern and traditional tales for children illustrated by a number of Czech artists (early 80's). Most of the pictures are stunning and quite distinctive but the one that really stands out for me is the work of Jiří FIXL (b. 1950). I love the wit, the colours, the quirky characters and the way the pictures are divided into panels to suit the narrative of the story. Here is the link for the artist's website http://www.jirifixl.cz/index.html

"The Tale Of Tom Thumb"

"The Runaway Doughnut"

"The Obedient Goat Kids"

The beautiful work of the Czech illustrator JIŘÍ FIXL. Brilliant colour schemes and such imaginative settings and details - they would have made lovely posters.

Sleeping Beauty"

"Hansel And Gretel"

"Bertha And The Devil"

The very colourful work of Olga Cechova, also in this book....

Kornelie Nemeckova (born 1932, Vsetin)

The work of Kveta Pacovska (born 1922, Prague) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kv%C4%9Bta_Pacovsk%C3%A1

These gruesome but extra-ordinary lithographs from a hundred and ten years ago came to my mind when I heard of last week's sickening and pointless killings in Paris. These pictures document a dark chapter of Russian history where upon masses of workers and their families went to the streets of St Petersburg in 1905 to ask for better working conditions and an end to poverty from the mighty Tzar. Instead of a hearing from the authorities, they were faced with a ruthless army which attacked and fired indiscriminately! Thousands were murdered in cold blood and thousands were left wounded in disbelief - Boris Pasternak's book "Dr Zhivago" and David Lean's film with the same name were based on these bloody events, known now as the October Revolution. The journals in which they were published were created by artists and intellectuals furious and frustrated with the establishment in an effort to expose its brutality and injustice. It seems that violence against the innocent and the helpless has plagued humanity for ever...

These pictures were incredibly outspoken and bold: The one below actually displays the names of government officials, generals or ministers under each bloody hand-print! The one below that, shows caricatures of the generals having a feast, looking so pleased with themselves after the massacre! The publications were, of course, suppressed by the authorities in the end, but they became a triumph for the freedom of speech and artistic expression.

Here are a few names of the contributing artists listed in this book: Boris Izraelovich Anisfeld (1879-1973), Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (1876-1942), Isaac Izrealovich Brodsky (1883-1939), Pyotr Semyonovich Dobrynin (1877-1948), Msitislav Dobuzhinsky (1875-1957), Ivan Mikhailovich Grabovsky (1878-1922), Evgenii Evgenevich Lanser (1875-1946) and others. The book focuses more on the historical events that led to the October Revolution, the politics and the social structure in Russia at that time but offers little information on the creators of the journals. The reproductions of the illustrations are excellent though.

This publication is exactly 82 years old today! I came across it a couple of years ago and was struck by all the unusual and elegant typefaces advertising obscure radio components - something I know nothing about apart from owning a couple of radios from that era. A real gem for radio enthusiasts and its full of practical information and hints on improving the performance of your wireless sets!

Russian illustrator Ivan Yakovlevich Bilibin (St Petersburgh 1876-1942) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Bilibin

I found this book completely by chance at our local second-hand bookshop. Ivan Bilibin's amazing illustrations stood out a mile next to the other books! I had mentioned the artist on this blog only last month- a strange coincidence - as being one of the main contributors to the October Revolution Journals of 1905. To my shame, I wasn't aware of how important and influential an artist he was, especially for the turn of the 20th century period (along with artists like Walter Crane, William Morris, Edmund Dulac etc). Here is a biography and in depth commentary on his work: http://textualities.net/jennie-renton/the-art-of-ivan-bilibin Also here: http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/bilibin.htm

"What Are The Seven Wonders Of The World?" Peter D' Epiro & Mary Desmond Pinkowish, Illustrations by Richard Beards (The Folio Society, London 2005), Part 2

"What Are The Seven Wonders Of The World?" Peter D' Epiro & Mary Desmond Pinkowish, Illustrations by Richard Beards (The Folio Society, London 2005), Part 3

"Russo-Turkish War" Cover Illustration/Design by John Leighton (published by William Mackenzie, Glasgow, Edinburgh, London - date unknown)

"The World Of M.C. Escher" With Texts By M.C. Escher and J.L. Locher (published by Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers, New York 1971)

"The World Of M.C. Escher" With Texts By M.C. Escher and J.L. Locher (published by Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers, New York 1971) Part 2

"The World Of M.C. Escher" With Texts By M.C. Escher and J.L. Locher (published by Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers, New York 1971) Part 3

"The Iliad And The Odyssey" Adapted From The Homer Classics By Jane Werner Watson, Pictures By Alice And Martin Provensen (Published by Paul Hamlyn, London 1965)

"The Iliad And The Odyssey" Adapted From The Homer Classics By Jane Werner Watson, Pictures By Alice And Martin Provensen (Published by Paul Hamlyn, London 1965) Part 2

"The Iliad And The Odyssey" Adapted From The Homer Classics By Jane Werner Watson, Pictures By Alice And Martin Provensen (Published by Paul Hamlyn, London 1965) Part 3

"My Big Book Of Sleepy-Time Tales" - A Collection Of Stories and Pictures by Authors and Artists from Czechoslovakia (published by The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1984

"My Big Book Of Sleepy-Time Tales" - A Collection Of Stories and Pictures by Authors and Artists from Czechoslovakia (published by The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1984 Part 2

"My Big Book Of Sleepy-Time Tales" - A Collection Of Stories and Pictures by Authors and Artists from Czechoslovakia (published by The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1984 - Part 3

"My Big Book Of Sleepy-Time Tales" - A Collection Of Stories and Pictures by Authors and Artists from Czechoslovakia (published by The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1984 - Part 4

"BLOOD AND LAUGHTER, Caricatures From The 1905 Revolution" David King & Cathy Porter (Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd, London 1983) Part 1

"BLOOD AND LAUGHTER, Caricatures From The 1905 Revolution" David King & Cathy Porter (Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd, London 1983) - Part 2

"BLOOD AND LAUGHTER, Caricatures From The 1905 Revolution" David King & Cathy Porter (Published by Jonathan Cape Ltd, London 1983) - Part 3

Amateur Wireless & Radiovision No.598 (25 November 1933) - Britain's Leading Radio Weekly For Constructor, Listener And Experimenter (Published by Bernard Jones Publications Ltd, London 1933)

Amateur Wireless & Radiovision No.598 (25 November 1933) - Britain's Leading Radio Weekly For Constructor, Listener And Experimenter (Published by Bernard Jones Publications Ltd, London 1933) Part 2

"The Tale Of The Golden Cockerel" By Alexander Pushkin, Illustrations By Ivan Bilibin (first published in English by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, London 1976) Part-1

"The Tale Of The Golden Cockerel" By Alexander Pushkin, Illustrations By Ivan Bilibin (first published in English by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd, London 1976) Part-2