The Golden Age of Illustration: Celebrating Classic Book Illustrators

Illustration for Illustration for The Man That Pleased None from Baby's Own Aesop, 1887 (Wikimedia Commons)

Driven by technological advances, cultural shifts, and various artistic movements, the Golden Age of Illustration ushered in a period of unprecedented creativity that elevated the craft of illustration into an artform that would leave a lasting legacy on the world of art and design.

It was a transformative period in the history of art. The Victorian era brought great social and political change, together with a public during the 19th and early 20th centuries that was consumed by a new graphic art. Made possible by advances in accurate and inexpensive reproductions, pioneering artists like Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, and Kay Nielsen blended narrative with artistic beauty at a pivotal moment in the history of illustration and art.

Spurred by a burgeoning middle class and their appetite for literature, the Golden Age of Illustration heralded an explosion in the production and consumption of illustrated books. Drawing inspiration from Pre-Raphaelites, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Les Nabis, artists illustrated children’s literature and elaborate editions of classics, as they became household names who contributed to a new, rich visual culture.

Notable Illustrators and Their Works

Arthur Rackham and Fairy Tales

Widely recognized as a leading figure in the Golden Age of British illustration, Arthur Rackham’s blend of symbolism with fantasy and mythology brought fantastical creatures, ethereal landscapes, and mystical settings to life in illustrations that often evoked deeper meanings and emotions.

Rackham earned a reputation for his robust pen and ink fantasy illustrations that would influence the likes of Maurice Sendak and Neil Gaiman. His illustrations for Lewis Carrols’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream are celebrated as some of his best work, while his color illustrations for Rip Van Winkle proved innovative for their color-separated printing, but his legacy is enshrined by illustrations for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm.

Edmund Dulac and Fantasy Literature

Edmund Dulac’s vivid illustrations provided fantasy-inspired portals to other worlds, allowing imagination to run free, as he brought to life works of fiction with great attention to detail, as in Stories from Hans Andersen, Arabian Nights, and The Tempest.

One of the first to utilize color plates and integrate Orientalism into his paintings, the French British artist illustrated The Snow Queen in 1911, using watercolor, gouache, pen, and ink to create an iconic template for fantasy literature. His intricate and vibrant depiction of the Snow Queen encapsulates his fantastical vision and transports readers to far away and mystical lands.

Kay Nielsen and Folklore

Famed for illustrations of Grimms Fairy TalesOld Tales from the North (East of the Sun West of the Moon), and Twelve Dancing Princesses, the Danish illustrator, Kay Nielsen is also notable for producing the Bald Mountain scenes in Fantasia at Walt Disney’s request.

Nielsen spent four years working for the Walt Disney Company from 1937 to 1941 and again in the 1950s for Sleeping Beauty. His art was deemed too dark for the silver screen, but found an appreciative home in illustration following the publication of Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen in 1924, which included 12 color plates and more than 40 monotone illustrations. Nielsen followed this with artwork for Hansel and Gretel and Other Stories by the Brothers Grimm, which showcased his supernatural interest, richly detailed scenes, and a love of folklore and Norse mythology.

Gustave Doré and Biblical Scenes

A man of many talents, Gustave Doré was a printmaker, illustrator, painter, caricaturist, and sculptor, but is best known for his wood-engravings in classic literature, especially those for the Vulgate Bible (Bible de Tours) and Dante’s Divine Comedy, which earned him international recognition and spearheaded technological advances that revolutionized mass-production in illustration.

At the height of his career, the French artist employed 40 block-cutters to cut drawings onto wooden printing blocks, while he created a staggering 10,000 illustrations, many of which utilized an electrotype process of cylinder presses that allowed large print runs. In 1853 Doré illustrated the works of Lord Byron and followed this by working on a new illustrated Bible, which led to a major exhibition of his work in London in 1867.

DORÉ, GUSTAVE: THE BIBLE. Sold: €300 via Galerie Moenius (June 2024)

John Bauer and Scandinavian Folklore

Illustration of a small girl wearing a crown and a bear

John Bauer 1882-1918 -Stackars lilla basse! Sold for kr300,000 via Bukowskis (May 2013)

Bringing life to woodland scenes and fantastical creatures, John Bauer’s illustrations were influenced by mythology, Italian Renaissance art, and Sami culture, but he’s best known for his illustrations of Swedish fairy tales like Among Gnomes and Trolls (Bland tomtar och troll).

The Swedish painter’s illustrations for Among Gnomes and Trolls proved hugely successful when published in 1907. Early collections of the fairytales featured illustrations in grey tones, while later volumes included some of his best mature work, such as Princess Tuvstarr and Skutt the moose against the twilight sky, which were this time printed in color. Bauer’s work found relevance again in the 21st century when his illustration Poor little bear! (Stackars lilla basse!) featured in Ari Aster’s 2019 film Midsommar.

Walter Crane and Children’s Books

Considered one of the most influential children’s book creators of his generation, Walter Crane had a transformative effect on illustration thanks to a unity of design that integrated imagery with the words.

Such was the impact of Crane’s art that his colorful and detailed illustrations heralded the beginning of the child-in-the-garden motifs, which would come to characterize nursery rhymes and children’s stories for decades to come. Crane also illustrated The Frog Prince (1874), Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queene (1894–1896), and The Happy Prince and Other Stories by Oscar Wilde (1888).

Influence on Literature and Publishing

Ushering in a period of unprecedented collaboration between illustrators, publishers, and writers, this new synergy would define the Golden Age of Illustration and create a visual art that was not only appreciated for its aesthetic quality and integration with the story, but also contributed to the popularity and appreciation of classic literature.

This was particularly true of children’s literature, as classics like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Wind in the Willows proved instrumental in developing children’s literature, as the widely appreciated books transformed reading into a visual experience.

Visual artists became an integral part of storytelling and pivotal contributors to the literary landscape. Illustrators of today can thank this golden age for highlighting the timeless value of illustrations and its ability to enrich narratives and draw readers into a story. Not just aesthetically appealing though, the influence of Golden Age illustrations also helped to democratize art and make it accessible to a wider audience. And it did so with the help of rapid technological change.

Technological Advances and Illustration

Propelled by technological advancements in printing, artists were able to share their work with a wider audience during a period of significant innovation that left an indelible mark on the world of illustration. The advent of steel engraving and lithography allowed for finer detail and a greater range of tones in illustrations, while new photomechanical reproduction techniques bridged the gap between artistic vision and the printed page, allowing the production of mass-produced illustrations that retained the quality of the original artwork.

It was the introduction of color lithography that really changed the game though, as artists were able to experiment with a full palette, bringing fantastical stories to life in vibrant color. Not only did this revolutionize the way stories were told and experienced, but it enhanced the visual appeal of the illustrations.

The impact of these technological advances was huge and remain evident in modern graphic design and visual communication. Golden Age illustrations were a transformative force that reshaped the landscape of illustration, showcasing the powerful synergy between art and technology that brought together technical ingenuity with creative brilliance to define this highly influential era.

Legacy and Contemporary Illustration

Showcasing the transformative power of illustration, the Golden Age continues to influence contemporary artists and designers. The fusion of art and literature has had an enduring appeal and led to a digital revival that ensures the legacy of this illustrious period remains alive and accessible for future generations.

Breaking new ground with innovative techniques and distinctive styles, these pioneers of illustration set a standard for creativity that remains a benchmark today. It’s evident in the vivid and Gothic slanted style of Maurice Sendak‘s Where the Wild Things Are, while the illustrator of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, Alan Lee, is said to have drawn inspiration from Golden Age illustrators like Arthur Rackham.

Influencing a broad range of visual medium, the graphic art of illustration has also influenced Guillermo del Toro’s dark fantasy film, Pan’s Labyrinth, as the director cites the dark tone and gritty realism of Rackham’s drawings as an influence on the design of The Faun in the film. But whatever the medium, the legacy of the Golden Age of Illustration continues to inspire artists across an expanding range of media.


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