Images of fantasy and fairy tales by a Danish master of illustration
The Danish artist Kay Nielsen’s luminous interpretations of fairy tales and legends from around the world are among the most celebrated book illustrations of the 20th century, unsurpassed in their dramatic intensity and intricate detail. This book is the first to put his achievements in the context of a career that took him from studies in Paris to the Copenhagen theater, to galleries in London and New York, to the Walt Disney Studios, presenting fresh insights into his life and work as well as his materials and techniques. Dazzling reproductions of original watercolors and drawings from one of the premier collections of Nielsen’s work invite viewers to enter the enchanted world of an imaginative and supremely gifted artist. Born in Copenhagen and educated in Paris, Kay Nielsen (1886–1957) gained international recognition for his exquisite gift book illustrations, notably his masterpieces East of the Sun and West of the Moon (1914) and Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen (1924). In contrast to some of his contemporaries, Nielsen often focused on the melancholic or dramatic elements of tales, creating memorable visual sequences reflecting themes of love, passion, loss and death. During the last stage of his career, he collaborated with Walt Disney Studios on the landmark animation film Fantasia, and produced several public art commissions.
Featured image is reproduced from 'Kay Nielsen: An Enchanted Vision'.
Featured spreads are from MFA Publications’ superb new compendium on the early twentieth-century Danish illustrator Kay Nielsen. Perhaps best known for his masterful book illustrations for East of the Sun and West of the Moon (1914) and Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen (1924), many will also recognize some element of magic in his work on Walt Disney Studios’ landmark animated film, Fantasia. “A highly skilled draftsperson capable of rendering exceptional detail, Nielsen precisely constructed images that come to life in the viewer’s mind as they convey narrative moments of heightened emotion," Meghan Melvin writes. "His compositions, often featuring just one or two figures, offer windows into enchantingly complex imaginary worlds. Their confident deployment of dense and highly patterned elements with contrasting large empty spaces creates a dramatic visual undercurrent for every tale as it unfolds for the reader.” continue to blog
FORMAT: Hbk, 8.5 x 11.25 in. / 168 pgs / 115 color. LIST PRICE: U.S. $45.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $58 GBP £35.00 ISBN: 9780878468805 PUBLISHER: MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston AVAILABLE: 11/2/2021 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Out of print AVAILABILITY: Not available TERRITORY: WORLD
Published by MFA Publications, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Text by Meghan Melvin with Alison Luxner.
Images of fantasy and fairy tales by a Danish master of illustration
The Danish artist Kay Nielsen’s luminous interpretations of fairy tales and legends from around the world are among the most celebrated book illustrations of the 20th century, unsurpassed in their dramatic intensity and intricate detail. This book is the first to put his achievements in the context of a career that took him from studies in Paris to the Copenhagen theater, to galleries in London and New York, to the Walt Disney Studios, presenting fresh insights into his life and work as well as his materials and techniques. Dazzling reproductions of original watercolors and drawings from one of the premier collections of Nielsen’s work invite viewers to enter the enchanted world of an imaginative and supremely gifted artist.
Born in Copenhagen and educated in Paris, Kay Nielsen (1886–1957) gained international recognition for his exquisite gift book illustrations, notably his masterpieces East of the Sun and West of the Moon (1914) and Fairy Tales by Hans Andersen (1924). In contrast to some of his contemporaries, Nielsen often focused on the melancholic or dramatic elements of tales, creating memorable visual sequences reflecting themes of love, passion, loss and death. During the last stage of his career, he collaborated with Walt Disney Studios on the landmark animation film Fantasia, and produced several public art commissions.
