John Bauer

[alexandral]

John Bauer (04.07.1882 – 20.11.1918 was a painter and illustrator from Sweden. His most known illustrations are for the popular Swedish fairytale annual, "Bland tomtar och troll" (Among Elves and Trolls) . Apparently this annual is still going! I was introduced to his art by baleanoptera in her excellent post Picturing that which is not, again and immediately fell in love with it.

John Bauer was one of the people whose life follows inexplicable and dark fate. His sister died when she was 13 and this made a huge impact on him and his family. He was suffering from depression and had family difficulties in his later life. John Bauer, his wife and his son died in the shipwreck and this is a very strange story : they decided to go to Stockholm by ferry because they had heard of the recent train accident.

I have been collecting his illustrations for quite a while already and meant to post them for ages. They are absolutely amazing, outworldly and mysterious!
























































I have made some icons from John Bauers's illustrations, free to share. Preview:

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Comments

[tangledtale.livejournal.com]

Popped over from storybookland and just wanted to thank you for sharing all these lovely illustrations with us. You know, looking at his drawings for trolls and netherworldly creatures just reminds me of how distinctive and at times definitive they are. Before I had ever seen any of Bauer's art, I was familiar with many of his trolls' features. The icons are beautiful and really cleverly cropped too, so I might nab a few to keep in storage for the oncoming winter months. There's nothing like a warm palette to ward away the chills. Well, that and actual, physical warmth, but you understand what I mean. :)

p.s. I don't know if you're still looking for image files of Bauer's work if you're going to buy a book of them as you indicated in the thread above, but if you like,I have a larger version of this picture (http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o51/alexandraleaving/bauer/bauer_ill15.jpg) on my computer somewhere. I feel a bit stupid suggesting something this inane (I mean, it's an image file!), but if you like, I could perhaps post it in another reply?

p.p.s You're an LJ-friend of Koala, right? I've seen you around on her LJ and knew that your user name sounded familiar for a reason. Hello! *waves*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so glad you have wondered in!! It is such a pleasure to share the joy of something beautiful!!!

It would be great if you can post a bigger version of that image - in fact I was thinking that I saw the bigger version once and completely forgotten where. :D I am so sorry to be a pain - is it possible for you to give me a link instead of posting it? really big images break this layout. (I am so sorry for asking this!!)

And yes! koalathebear is one of my dear friends! Is it fine if I add you to my friends list??

[tangledtale.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm just grateful that you were nice enough to hunt all these down and collectively post them in one handy spot. I haven't really had the time or energy to do that with favourite illustrators lately, which is a shame because it is such a satisfying feeling finding a clear, high-res picture by a wonderful illustrator. *clearly needs life* So obviously, seeing all these together made me squee with pleasure.

And here's the link (http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y153/west-of-the-moon/LJ%20flist%20interests/809783f94a3c997457.jpg) to the Bauer. 'Twasn't a pain at all. :) Have you seen the collection of his stuff over at ASIFA here? (http://www.animationarchive.org/2006/11/illustration-john-bauers-bland-tomtar.html) Half of them you've already got up in your post there, but there are a few that I hadn't seen elsewhere on the internet. The first one in particular of the girl with the golden curls is gooorgeous!

I'd love to have you on my friendslist! You like Friday Night Lights! And North and South! And Toby Stephens! I should warn you that I'm terribly lax with updating my own journal and prefer to attach myself to other people's through excessive commenting like an energy sucking virus.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much for the links! The ASIFA website is amazing, I will have to make another post with the illustrations from there - the girl with the golden curls and some of the other ones with the queen (?) in red are just wonderful!!!

And I like commenting too! I like LJ because it is such a great tool for making new friends!!!