Once Upon a Time: Illustrations from Fairytales, Fables, Primers, Pop-Ups, and other Children's Books

by Amy Weinstein

Many of our most cherished childhood memories recall the pleasure of sitting in a big comfy chair while a doting parent reads from a lovingly illustrated picture book. Jack and the Bean Stalk , Little Red Riding Hood , Robinson Crusoe the colorful illustrations that decorated the pages of these stories remain forever captured in the minds eye. Once Upon a Time reawakens the joys of childhood reading, of seeing a story come alive in words and pictures on the printed pageand in our nascent imaginations. Drawing upon the extraordinary collection of Victorian-era illustrated books amassed by Arthur and Ellen Liman, it presents fairy tales and fables, nursery rhymes, instructional books, juvenile fiction, histories, and manners manuals. Created through a variety of illustration techniques and printing processes, most are beautifully colored. Many are also animated with moveable parts. These striking objects are accompanied by brief texts that place them within their era and illuminate the rise of children's literature in America as a cultural phenomenon related to the growth of literacy, an increase in leisure time, and an understanding of the "infant mind." The moral of this learning your ABCs can be a visual pleasure.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

179 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2005

Reviews

[Hosein · Rating 4 out of 5]

چند وقته دنبال کتاب در مورد "دوران طلایی تصویرسازی" می‌گشتم، خیلی جاها این رو معرفی کرده بودن به عنوان یک منبع قابل اعتماد و خوب. تا حدودی هم با اون حرف موافقم، جزو معدود جاهاییه که اینقدر تصویرسازی خوب از اون دوره رو با بالاترین کیفیت گذاشته بود. اما دوتا مشکل خیلی بزرگ داشت:

اول اینکه اگه مثل من به متن نیاز دارین و از کتاب انتظار دارین بهتون اطلاعات خاصی بده، یکسری بخش‌های تاریک رو براتون تحلیل کنه و در مورد تکنیک‌ها حرف بزنه، این کتاب قرار نیست اون کار رو بکنه. بیشتر رویکرد متن روی تاریخ‌نگاریه، اینکه کار به سفارش کی بوده یا توی بازار چه تاثیری داشته. ممکنه مثل من این بخش ناامیدتون کنه.

مورد بعدی هم محدود بودن کتاب به یکسری موارد خاصه. مثلا خیلی به تصویرسازی برای تبلیغات سیرک پرداخته، اما برای تصویرسازی‌های تئاتر، اپرا یا نمایش‌های مشابهشون تقریبا هیچ‌چیزی نیست. به نظر میاد خیلی تمرکزشون روی بخش‌هاییه که در دسترسشون بوده، چون طبق منابعی که دیدم تقریبا تمام تصویرسازی‌های توی کتاب از چهارتا منبع مختلفن. متاسفانه بخش‌های مهمی جا موندن که باید برای خوندن و دیدنشون دوباره دنبال منبع باشم.

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures available at parkablogs.com)

Here's a nostalgic book authored by Amy Weinstein, a curator. She has collected a great amount of children books published by McLoughlin Brothers. There are many classics like Mother Goose, Tom Thumb and other less well known stories. Right at the start is an introduction to McLoughlin Brothers and the history of children books.

The illustrations are collected in the book, with captions. Children books in the past has a very unique artistic style, with respect to colouring and penciling. Throughout the book, the captions also explain the various influences on the books, such as the appearance of flags to show patriotism.

This book will serve as a useful reference for artists into children illustrations.

This review was first published on parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.

[Leah Markum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the "Golden Era of Illustration" featured in this book. I had a few as a kid that were of the variety and age to be featured in this book, so it was as nostalgic as it was a fun study as an illustration student. They still stimulate so much ideas of adventure and rural life, and that's where my brain likes to hang out, especially when it comes to art.

[Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

kind of one-dimensional. lovely illustrations, but all with the same look.