Book: The Art of Alice and Martian Provensen
Author: Various. Published by Chronicle Chrome
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
The Provensens
were illustrators of various children’s books.
Their names might not be instantly recognizable to most readers, but the
chances are that you or someone you are related to has read one of the books
that they have illustrated. They worked
on Little Golden Books among others.
The book
focuses mostly on the artwork, so it is not a straight biography, more a collection of the illustrations. This does not mean, however, that the introductory
material is lacking. The book starts
with an interview with the Provensens’ daughter, Karen Provensen Mitchell. Mitchell gives not only an overview of her
parents’ lives, including a section in Alice Provensen’s own words. There are details about the family’s experience
on the farm. Also included are two speeches
from the Provensens’ themselves. There essays
from people including Robert Gottlib who was a family friend.
Of course,
most readers are going to come to this book for the art.
The
illustrations are magnificent. While the
focus is on the illustration work, the travel sketchbooks of the couple are reproduced
in the introduction as well as Martin Provensen’s studies of various famous paintings. These are particularly nice to see because
the styles are slightly different thereby showing the couples’ range. Additionally, the travel sketches allow you
to see via their eyes. The inclusion of
these works is a wonderful touch.
The
illustrations themselves include the Provensens’ work on titles including various
fairy tales as well as the Iliad and the Odyssey and Aesop. The illustration of various animals are the
right combination of cute and realistic.
There are big and fluffy wolfhound like dogs, horse of various of kinds,
and nice-looking birds.
The illustrations
are not just the various animal and fairy tale books but also include those from
Blake’s Inn.
If you
are interested in children’s literature or art, this book is worth reading.
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