This somewhat disturbing image, dripping with sexual innuendo, was a commissioned illustration by Kinuko Craft, for an adult version of Goblin Market, so don't blame her for its content. But it's a lovely execution in the old fairy tale style.
This image is a small print in my pictorial morgue, but it was originally an illustration for Playboy in 1973.
It's a wonderful piece. It overtly depicts what many of the classical illustrators could only depict covertly.
ReplyDeleteOvert sexual content aside, it is almost completely derived from Arthur Rackham's 1933 illustration for Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market," which was/is no nice little children's poem to begin with . . .
ReplyDeleteI believe this is an illustration for the poem "The Goblin Market" by Christina Rossetti.
ReplyDelete--Bob Cosgrove
Thanks guys, yes I was coming to that. Nice to know someone's peeking in here.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of those ads James Jean painted for AIDES condoms.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jamesjean.com/blog/C97ED4/aides-posters
Erik, yes those are lovely posters. James Jean's work is quite amazing.
ReplyDeleteI read this poem in Victorian Lit back in the Sixties. And of course I read the Playboy article. Now I'm bringing this together in an introduction to my next mystery novel, Twilight is not Good for Maidens. Let's remember that Christina Rossetti was very religious and later turned to writing devotional poetry. Christ and eros, not that different.
ReplyDeleteLou Allin
Hey, Can I ask you something? Who is the artist who made this illustration? I searched for Kinuko Craft, but I get totally different art in Google. Or is it Arthur Rackham? Because it looks like him? I would love to see more images of this artist...I made a couple of illustrations for Playboy too and it's lovely to see how an artist did this way back in the time. Can you answer on my blog or here: info@marjoleincaljouw.nl Thanks a lot. Great images on your blog.
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