NIELSEN, Kay (illus.); ANDERSEN, Hans.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Fairy Tales. First trade edition, first impression, of one of the most beautiful editions of Andersen's fairy tales, work for which Nielsen had begun in 1912. "Though Dulac only indirectly used Art Nouveau, Kay Nielsen, the Danish artist, combined the bizarre side of the movement and its exquisite motifs, as used by Beardsley, with oriental influences in pattern and decoration. Like Dulac, Nielsen also designed stage sets and costumes, and this theatrical interest showed itself in his book illustration in exotic, stage-like settings and the use of symbolism. Nielsen also chose the fairy tale as the vehicle for his elaborate talents" (Walley & Chester, A History of Children's Book Illustration, 1988, p.156).

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