Imagina was published in 1914 by Duffield and Company (New York). Earlier this evening is the first time I've ever seen these images. Click on the title link to see all of the illustrations in their original context.
Click the images posted here to view them in great detail.
Coming Soon: More Surprising Images from Arthur Rackham.
Arthur Rackham ~ 1914
Imagina by Julia Ellsworth Ford
New York: Duffield & Company
"Please, Mermaid, come out where it is sunny."
Arthur Rackham ~ 1914
Imagina by Julia Ellsworth Ford
New York: Duffield & Company
Frontispiece ~ Faerie Folk
I almost, almost think I've seen the bottom image before, but there is so much majesty in the tree and the confidence in the fairy who must be queen, I'm sure it's evoking other wonderful Rackham images. I love the moon in the background, and the subtlety of the color in the nightime scene.
The quality of sunlight filtering through the water, the shimmer of the mermaid's hair, and Rackham's ability to portray their strength and bouyancy, their individuality, and their pure joy as they swim, unstung and free with the jellyfish, makes this one of my favorite Rackham mermaid paintings.
I also enjoy it because it seems he must have had a lot of fun painting it, employing his expert skills with watercolor, while accepting any imperfections as lending to the freedom of the composition, which I find to be perfectly balanced in shape, color, tone, and movement.
Welcome, new and old followers. Please leave your comments.
Note: I've discovered why these images are familiar/not familiar to me. My friend, Thom, at The Pictorial Arts, posted them last June in a post titled Delicious. I even commented on them, so you know that I both love them, and I stayed up entirely too late last night. It is very difficult for me to find an image Thom does not know about. Visit The Pictorial Arts for an amazing archive of golden age illustration and comic book art, with lively dialogue in the comments from artists, illustrators and fans.
I also enjoy it because it seems he must have had a lot of fun painting it, employing his expert skills with watercolor, while accepting any imperfections as lending to the freedom of the composition, which I find to be perfectly balanced in shape, color, tone, and movement.
Welcome, new and old followers. Please leave your comments.
Note: I've discovered why these images are familiar/not familiar to me. My friend, Thom, at The Pictorial Arts, posted them last June in a post titled Delicious. I even commented on them, so you know that I both love them, and I stayed up entirely too late last night. It is very difficult for me to find an image Thom does not know about. Visit The Pictorial Arts for an amazing archive of golden age illustration and comic book art, with lively dialogue in the comments from artists, illustrators and fans.
