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Arthur Rackham

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The Fairy World of Arthur Rackham

Arthur Rackham is one of the most remarkable and prolific book illustrators of the 20th century. Although his illustrations were commissioned for children's books, his works have a strange and often disturbing quality.

Rackham uses his art as a weapon against our anthropocentrism slyly and cleverly; challenging the notion that we are central to, and in control of our world. In the fantasy world of Arthur Rackham there are very real forces that we are blind to, and ignore at our peril.

"For children in their most impressionable years, there is, in fantasy, the highest of stimulating and educational powers." Arthur Rackham

This lens focuses on his illustrations of fairy stories.

Art by Arthur Rackham [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Old Elf Hiding Among the Flowers by Arthur Rackham.
Image: Art Passions.

With Arthur Rackham, there is often something not quite straight forward in the picture...We see a goblin peeking out from behind some tulips. We don't know why, but he looks as if he has a secret agenda. It is this sense of comming upon an event unannounced that gives the illustrations their immediacy and intimacy

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Here we are allowed to see Undine waiting by the sea. She is unmoved by our presence; we have no part in her story or her thoughts.

Dream Song
"Elf-light, bat-light,
Touchwood-light, and toad-light,
And the sea a shimmering gloom and gray,
And a small face smiling"

by walter de la Mare

Fairy on a Spider's Web by Arthur Rackham
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Arthur Rackham lets us see the unseen...

"Fairy places, fairy things,
Fairy woods where the wild bee sings."
by Robert Louis Stevenson from The Flowers

Fairies dance on spider webs, unaware that we have suddenly been gifted the sight to see them. Sometimes we are shown them just going about their daily lives. Arthur Rackham gives us eyes to see the hidden under our very noses.

"Fleeting glimpses hard to find,
Imagined wonders of lovely kind.
In night times waking in pleasant dreams,
In the moon's gossamer, silver beams.
Fairies dance the night away,
Gone at dawn, in flight of day."

Bedtime Fairies by
L.C. Gerstenfeld

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Available from Amazon:
Rackham's Fairy Tale Illustrations in Full Color
This beautiful book contains 55 colour plate reproductions of Arthur Rackham's fairy story illustrations, perfectly reproduced from rare and early editions. Quietly leave the mundane world behind, as the pictures cast their strange and beautiful spell.

Arthur Rackham [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In one respect, the faery world is rather similar to the human one; its inhabitants are as self absorbed with their universe as we are with ours. There is one great difference however...they can definitely see us, and when they choose, they can affect us for good or ill, as many of the stories Rackham illustrated tell us.

Arthur Rackham [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

There is something magical in the physical act of curling up with a book of Rackham's illustrations.

I grew up with books full of Arthur Rackham's illustrations. As a child the pictures fired my imagination far more than the stories, and when I look at them now I am instantly transported back to the same magical and mysterious world that I always felt was hiding just around the corner.

Arthur Rackham is acknowledged as one of the finest illustrators of the 20th century

Here are some more books that contain his extraordinary art work.

By Arthur Rackham [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The world of Arthur Rackham

and a few surprising self portraits...

Arthur Rackham was born on September 19th 1867 in Limpsfield, Surrey, and grew up in London. He studied in the evenings at the Lambeth School of Art for seven years whilst working full-time in an insurance office.

In 1892 he began a 4 year stint as a staff artist for the Westminster Budget, and began to illustrate books.

Rackham's work came to public notice and acclaim in England in 1900 for his illustrations of Grimm's Fairy Tales, and in America in 1905 for his illustrations for a limited edition of Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle.

Apart from his official self portrait, Arthur Rackham acknowledged that he included himself in this illustration entitled 'Going to St. Ives':

I also found this illustration for the nursery rhyme 'Jack Spratt'.: Surely the man himself again?

In 1908 Rackham was made a full member of the Royal Society of Watercolour Painters.
He provided illustrations for more than 60 books, including works by William Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, James Barrie, Charles Dickens, John Milton, Izaak Walton, Aesop, and Edgar Allan Poe.

Arthur Rackham self portrait [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Other Images : Art Passions.

Available from Amazon: Arthur Rackham: A Biography

This highly recommended and beautifully produced biography of Arthur Rackham by James Hamilton is packed full of high quality reproductions from all periods of the artists life.

Rackhams illustrations for Grimm's Fairy Tales are some of his most well known

The classic book of fairy tales...reproduced with 21 full colour plates and 21 line drawings.

Grimm's Fairy Tales

by: Brothers Grimm

Amazon Price: $73.62 (as of 05/27/2012)
Used Price: $7.89

Arthur Rackham [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A Review of Rackhams Influence

Arthur Rackham brought to life characters in stories such as Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle (1905) and Grimms Fairy Tales through his illustration. Rackham's work includes a wide spectrum of creativity from the grotesque to the romantic. His creations have contributed to and embellished the "Golden Age" of illustration which continues to endure well into the present day. This introduction in the book 'Arthur Rackham' by Leo John De Freitas, describes the methods and techniques used in Rackham's illustrations:

"Like so many of the artists and illustrators working at the turn of the century Arthur Rackham took full advantage of the developments in new printing processes. When he was born, in 1867, wood engraving was the predominant method by which an illustrator's work was reproduced. ............"

Excerpt from The Illustrators Project : Arthur Rackham (1867-1939).
This resource guide represents the combined work of the following people: Jeanann Croft , Michelle Frisque, Beth Kean, and Elizabeth T. Mahoney. Updated by David M. Frank, February 2006.

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Wee Folk by Arthur Rackham
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Rackham's influence continues in film today:

Pan's Labyrinth set designs based upon Rackham's work

Guillermo Del Toro, director of Pan's Labyrinth cites Arthur Rackham as an influence on the design of "The Faun" in Pan's Labyrinth. He liked the dark tone of Rackham's gritty, realistic drawings, and wanted to bring this quality to his film. The design of the tree growing out of the altar in the ruined abbey off the coast of Scotland in his film Hellboy, is actually referred to as a "Rackham tree" by the director.

Pan's Labyrinth

Amazon Price: $3.75 (as of 05/27/2012)

The design of the tree growing out of the altar in the ruined abbey off the coast of Scotland in his film Hellboy, is actually referred to as a "Rackham tree" by the director.

Whisper Trees by Arthur Rackham
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When Arthur Rackham's fairies play and dance, they do so with wild abandon.

"Come faeries, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame."
by William Butler Yeats

Two Fairies in Flight by Arthur Rackham
Image: Art Passions.

One thing is certain; Arthur Rackham paintings are magical, and full of poignant beauty.

Arthur Rackham fairy decals

These are fabulous, high quality print, wall decals of Arthur Rackham fairies. They are lovely to use on cupboard doors and places where it's not so easy to hang a picture. One way that I have used decals is to decorate furniture. You can apply them directly to wood, but if you are feeling creative, you can paint the furniture first in a colour that harmonises with the picture. It looks really brilliant.

8" x 6" Mounted Photographic Print Arthur Rackham Midsummer Nights Dream 001

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 05/27/2012)

Arthur Rackham [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Visit my other lens on Arthur Rackham which looks at the relationship between fairies and children in his illustrations.

You also might like:

Art Passions: Apart from those that can be bought via Amazon and All Posters on this page, all other images have been sourced via Art Passions. It is a non commercial site hosting most of Arthur Rackham images.
The ArthurRackhamSociety: The Arthur Rackham Society
SquiDirectory: For more children's literature articles

Arthur Rackham [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Arthur Rackham Colouring In Book...

for those of us not blessed with great line drawing gifts: a chance to colour some lovely art by Rackham

Rackham's Fairy Tale Coloring Book (Dover Classic Stories Coloring Book)

by: Arthur Rackham, Coloring Books

Amazon Price: $1.33 (as of 05/27/2012)
List Price: $3.95
Used Price: $0.01

Image: Art Passions.

8" x 6" Mounted Photographic Print Arthur Rackham Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (2)

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 05/27/2012)

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And say hallo, leave your thoughts here, or let me know your favourite Arthur Rackham painting

Two Fairies in Flight by Arthur Rackham
Image: Art Passions

Fairy spirits in the breeze,
Frailer nothing is than these.
Fancies born we know not where,
In the heart or in the air.

by William Winter from Unwritten Poems

Reply

elsahc Apr 26, 2012 @ 3:24 pm | delete

Beautiful lens...even though it was interesting to read about him, the images could have been a stand alone lens!

Reply

poddys Apr 26, 2012 @ 3:24 am | delete

Arthur Rackham was an amazing illustrator, he literally brought fairies and other creatures to life in his artwork. Great lens, I really enjoyed this. Blessed.

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thehiddenhollow Apr 22, 2012 @ 7:58 pm | delete

Awesome collection!

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siobhanryan Apr 12, 2012 @ 8:12 pm | delete

I prefer the children's drawings--something eerie in these drawings-a lot of information great lens