The Fantasy Worlds of Arthur Rackham
Legendary illustrator Arthur Rackham opened doorways to magical lands of fairies, goblins and childhood fantasies. His distinct pen-and-ink style combined with watercolor brought legendary books to life for both children and adults for over 30 years. We invite you to get lost in the wizardry of his stroke and let your imagination wander through the enchanted forests Rackham so lovingly created.
Arthur Rackham perfectly embodies the quintessential kindly English gentleman. He lead a peaceful, drama-free existence with his artist wife and daughter in their London studio, fittingly situated amidst the floral splendor of Primrose Hill rather than the more frenetic Chelsea scene.
In this serene urban respite, as well as his countryside retreat in Arundel, Rackham worked with patient devotion, surrounded by the sweet, heady fragrances of lilac and laburnum he features prominently in his illustrations. With his large tortoiseshell glasses and genial, keen-eyed countenance, Rackham strongly evokes the mild-mannered gnomes and sprites that populate his whimsical drawings.
Upon meeting Rackham, one instantly detected the gentle wit and subtle pathos of Charles Lamb glimmering behind those spectacles. The unaffected charm and humility of Rackham’s personality in no way betrays the incredible depth and scope of his imagination. For his outward conventionality masks an inner world vastly populated by the fantastical creatures of lore and legend he depicts. No one would guess this placid gentleman harbors such an inexhaustible capacity to conjure the raw materials for his magical, arresting art.
In short, Arthur Rackham’s humble, grounded demeanor provides the perfect contrast to the vivid flights of fancy his work exhibits. His serene home life enables him to tap into an astonishingly rich vein of creativity that has enthralled generations.
Arthur Rackham left behind an unparalleled legacy of illustrated stories and images that range from sweetly playful to hauntingly evocative. We hope this blog has provided you with inspiration to delve deeper into his artistic genius as well as resources to start appreciating and collecting his works for yourself. Let the magic of Rackham unfold on every page!
