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The Art of Alice and Martin Provensen' is the first-ever monograph on this beloved midcentury husband-and-wife illustration team. This award-winning pair created more than 40 beloved children's books over the span of seven decades, many of which appeared on the New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year lists. From early favorites for Golden Books such as The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown, 1949, to their Caldecott-winning title The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot, 1983, the Provensens' books inspired generations of young readers. Original paintings for their beloved classics such as A Child's Garden of Verses, 1951, The Iliad and the Odyssey, 1959, Myths and Legends, 1960 and many others, are beautifully reproduced and included here. This comprehensive volume showcases hundreds of their well-known illustrations, as well as many never-before-seen paintings, drawings, and exquisite sketchbooks from their travels around the world. An interview with their daughter Karen Provensen Mitchell illuminates their life and career and includes many personal photographs, quotes, speeches, and memorabilia from their archive. An introduction by Leonard S. Marcus, a leading historian in children's literature, underscores the Provensen's importance and influence as illustrators and authors. Additionally, noted publisher and close family friend Robert Gottlieb, provides a personal essay that shares many of his memories with this cherished couple. The Provensens' colorful, inimitable artwork is a treasure trove that has influenced generations of children, designers, illustrators, historians, and all who cherish classic children's books.… (more)
User reviews
Because my vast childhood collection of children’s books disappeared when I went to college, I created a new collection of vintage Golden Books to share with our son, including The Little Fat Policeman. I never forgot the story of the woman who was driving too fast because of the music she was listening to in her car!
The Art of Alice and Martin Provenson is a marvelous retrospective that includes their art from the 1949 The Fireside Cookbook to Alice’s 2005 Klondike Gold. Also included is a Conversation with Karen Provensen Mitchell, the artists’ daughter, with memories of her idyllic childhood growing up on Maple Hill Farm and insights into her parents’ personalities, marriage, and work.
There a pages of photographs of the artists at home on Maple Hill Farm, at work in their studio, and traveling abroad. I loved seeing their sketchbooks from their European vacation. “We never used a camera to record our impressions but have carried our sketchbooks around the world,” their are quoted as saying. Another interesting section includes Martin’s paintings in the style of his favorite artists, including Corot, Picasso, Braque, and Modigliani.
The Provensens won the Caldicott Award and their acceptance speech is included, as well as an address to the American Library Association.
Leonard S. Marcus contributes an essay, Two Artists, One Art. About their 1951 A Child’s Garden of Verses, he notes the book already had been illustrated with such notables as Tasha Tudor and Jessie Willcox Smith and they needed to “put their own stamp” on it. They did a marvelous job!
Robert Gottlieb offers A Very Personal Memory of Alice and Martin, having spent many Christmases at the farm.
It’s a beautiful volume.
I received access to a free ebook by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.