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A Tale of Two Illustrators
by
Kirsten Berg
Once Upon a Time: Kay Nielsen
Once upon a time, there lived an artist named Kay Nielsen. He illustrated four magnificent books of fairy tales:
In Powder and Crinoline (1913) and East of the Sun and West of the Moon (1914) were followed by Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales (1924) and Hansel and Gretel (1925)
Born in Copenhagen and raised in a family that had close ties to the theater, as a teenager Nielsen studied art in Paris. As a professional illustrator, his fame "was based on only four books of fairy tales, two published before World War One, and two published afterward..." (Meyer p.195) Kay (pronounced Kigh) excelled at bringing to life the characters, settings, and magic of fairy tales. His sweeping, Art-Deco lines are infused with an Oriental flavor and a sense of drama.
Our copy of Hansel and Gretel, number 22 of 600 produced, is signed by Kay Nielsen. The stories range from the well known ("Hansel and Gretel," "The Valiant Little Tailor") to the more obscure ("Clever Alice," "Jorinde and Joringel"). While the tipped-in color plates are the centerpiece of this volume, Nielsen's 10 black and white woodcuts are just as beautiful, and shouldn't be overlooked.
Nielsen's life was not the stuff of fairy tales. He worked as a set and costume designer in the theater, and even as an artist with the Walt Disney Studios, but continued success and fiscal solvability eluded him. He wasn't happy at the Disney Studios and quit. His partner in the theater venture died. After World War II, Nielsen's art was no longer in demand. He and his wife Ulla settled in Los Angeles, where they lived an impoverished existence.
Nielsen died in 1957, mostly forgotten by the public. His art, however, has enjoyed a happy ending. His paintings for the (unpublished) Thousand and One Nights (1918-22) have found a permanent home with a Los Angeles museum, and his books have won the hearts of fairy tale fans and art lovers around the world.
Happily Ever After: Arthur Rackham
Arthur Rackham began his career in art as a journalistic illustrator after completing night courses at the Lambeth School of Art. While attending the school he worked during the day as a clerk in an insurance office — certainly one of the last places a person possessing such a fantastic imagination might find lasting happiness.
Fiscally conservative, Rackham moved into full-time journalistic illustration for The Westminster Budget, leaving that position only when he was certain that he could fully support himself with other art projects. He clearly saw "that the camera was going to supplant the artist in illustrated journalism" (Meyer p. 158) It was time to move on.
While the advent of the camera might have pushed Rackham from a less-than-memorable career at the Budget, developments in the printing process during the early 1900's would play a part in his fabulous success as an illustrator. Color reproduction had been improved upon and the four color separation process was capable of — for that time — spectacular results. Images using this process were printed on heavy, specially coated paper, and had to be "tipped in" to the finished book. Certain publishers such as William Heinemann specialized in this type of production, and the pre-World War I gift book was born.
While Kay Nielsen is known for the four books listed above, Arthur Rackham illustrated a great many more. He is best remembered for his illustrations in Rip Van Winkle, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The publication of Rackham's Alice was highly stressful for him; lovers of the original John Tenniel edition were very vocal in their disapproval of scenes from Alice being portrayed by another artist. Rackham refused the commission to illustrate Through the Looking Glass when the chance was offered.
Arthur Rackham died shortly after finishing his painting for The Wind in the Willows. After his beginnings as a competent journalistic illustrator, he died a master of the gift book illustration, with over forty fabulous books to his credit. His illustrated editions, now as sought after as ever, are living "happily ever after."
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