The Hobbit There and Back Again Inside Art
Writing almost the allure of fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien famously asserted that in that location is no such thing as writing "for children" — that's mayhap why his stories continue to enchant generations and attract admirers of all ages. Tolkien's first major piece of work, The Hobbit (public library) — which predates his ballsy novel The Lord of the Rings by nearly twenty years — was published in 1937 and in the years since has drawn remarkable international acclaim. Because the story is driven past visual whimsy, it has likewise produced a number of vibrant illustrated editions from all effectually the globe, beginning with Tolkien'south own artwork for the original edition, which I wrote almost some years ago. Here are a few favorites.
J.R.R. TOLKIEN (Slap-up BRITAIN, 1937)
In October of 1936, Tolkien delivered to his publisher the manuscript of The Hobbit, in which he included more than 100 illustrations — Tolkien, unbeknownst to many, was a rather gifted and prolific artist. These manuscript drawings were recently released in The Fine art of the Hobbit (public library) — a magnificent volume celebrating the 75th anniversary of The Hobbit with 110 beautiful, many never-before-seen illustrations by Tolkien, ranging from pencil sketches to ink line drawings to watercolors.
In creating the artwork for The Hobbit, Tolkien borrowed from a brusque story he had written for his son Michael, titled "Roverandom."
Also included are conceptual sketches for the now-iconic dust jacket cover painting of the mountains Bilbo Baggins transverses in his adventures.
See more of Tolkien's art hither.
TOVE JANSSON (SWEDEN, 1962)
In 1962, shortly earlier she received the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen award, beloved Swedish-speaking Finnish artist, writer, and Moomin creator Tove Jansson illustrated a Swedish edition of The Hobbit. Janssen was at the elevation of her career and brought to the Tolkien classic her signature touch of subtly wistful whimsy.
Alas, this jewel is now severely out of print, practically unfindable online, but available at some better-stocked public libraries.
RIYÛICHI TERASHIMA (Nippon, 1965)
In 1965, artist Ryûichi Terashima illustrated a Japanese edition of The Hobbit, notable not simply for its fragile line drawings merely also for the exquisite production of the book itself, which mirrors the sensibility of Terashima'due south art with lavish newspaper and luxury binding. It has been reprinted several times, as recently as 2008.
The volume is currently out of impress, only used copies tin can be found online; alas, not at the library.
MIKHAIL BELOMLINSKY (Russian federation, 1976)
In 1976, Russian — then Soviet — creative person Mikhail Belomlinsky took on the Tolkien archetype soon after graduating from an MFA program in painting, architecture, and sculpture. The opportunity kicked off Belomlinsky's career every bit he turned to political cartooning and children'south books. He went on to illustrate more 100 of the latter, both in Soviet Russian federation and in the United States afterwards his motility to New York City in 1989.
JIRI SALAMOUN (Czech republic, 1979)
In 1979, when he was forty-4 — the same age Tolkien was when he published The Hobbit — the Czech artist, graphic designer, and illustrator Jiri Salamoun was commissioned to illustrate a Czech edition of the volume. He brought his eclectic background in visual storytelling and the graphic arts — spanning film poster blueprint, typography, volume illustration, and silk-screen printing — to the project.
This vintage gem is also a rarity, but some libraries exercise have it.
BONUS: MAURICE SENDAK (U.s.a., 1967)
In 1967, six years after legendary editor Ursula Nordstrom had nurtured his creative direction and four years after his iconic Where the Wild Things Are, 39-year-old Maurice Sendak was deputed to illustrate a 30th anniversary edition of The Hobbit. But the project fell through, leaving behind simply a unmarried surviving drawing, which Open up Civilisation unearthed.
A realized edition would've been unimaginably wonderful, judging by Sendak'south artistic interpretations of literary classics like William Blake'southward Song of Innocence, which he illustrated the same twelvemonth as the failed Tolkien project, and Tolstoy's Nikolenka's Childhood, completed four years earlier.
Source: https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/06/13/vintage-hobbit-illustrations/
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