W. Heath Robinson: And That's the Last I Saw of Her

W. Heath Robinson's illustration to the story of "The Woodcutter and His Three Sons" appeared in Liliane M. C. Clompet's Once Upon a Time. An airborne witch departs from the woodcutter's wife who is left standing by a well. The strong diagonal composition is defined by a sight line between the two faces which runs parallel to the line of the broomstick. The double uprights alongside the well point directly upward to the witch, while the pail directs the eye gently back toward the standing woman. This final book of Robinson's career was published in 1944, the year of his death.

https://www.chrisbeetles.com/artwork/8518/and-that-s-the-last-i-saw-of-her

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Dan Kilgo: The High Cost of Halloween

The U.S. inflation rate hit a whopping 14.4% in 1947 as the postwar economic expansion got underway. That's why the Saturday Evening Post felt its readers that year would be able to relate to a certain price-conscious Halloween cartoon by Dan Kilgo.

"Can you imagine paying two bucks for a lousy broom like this?"
Dan Kilgo
The Saturday Evening Post, October 18, 1947, page 74

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  Once again I want to thank Dick Buchanan for providing Attempted Bloggery with another gorgeous scan from the celebrated Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. Dick contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Color Gag Cartoons 1936 - 1967." Really, it's just like being there.

Today marks cartoonist Dan Kilgo's first appearance on the blog. The cartoon is wonderfully atmospheric, no?


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Halloween

The Saturday Evening Post

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Bargain Counter Index

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Arthur Rackham: Hey! Up the Chimney, Lass!

The original 1907 frontispiece illustration by Arthur Rackham to the Rev. R. H. Barham's The Ingoldsby Legends shows a gaggle of witches flying up out of a chimney. Rackham uses an S-shaped composition to convey the  spiralling upward sweep of the witches. He makes sure to put the pretty witch dead center where we can see her. Rackham demonstrates careful control over the forms of the witches, but allows himself uncharacteristic freedom in rendering the fanciful anatomy of the black cats.

The Chris Beetles Gallery sold this spectacular illustration in 2004 for an impressive 65,000 GBP. The work has come back to the gallery for another go, but anyone who hopes to snag it this time around should take note that the price has doubled.

Arthur Rackham
Hey! Up the Chimney, Lass! Hey After You!
Rev. R. H. Barham, The Ingoldsby Legends, 1907

Arthur Rackham
Chris Beetles Gallery Listing Retrieved October 27, 2018

https://www.chrisbeetles.com/gallery/illustrations/hey-chimney-lass-hey-after-you.html

Note:  The 2004 sale price is referenced in the Antiques Trade Gazette here.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Arthur Rackham

Halloween

Original Book Illustrations

Attempted Bloggery's Ascending Index

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A Sign of Halloween

I spotted a couple of copies of this sign at work. This is a rare opportunity to share a Halloween pun.

Note:  There are a lot more blog posts here about Halloween.

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