Chapter Four
Picturebooks with Allusionsto the Fine Arts
You don't have to know everything about art history… to enjoy these stories.
A facet of contemporary picturebooks that has particular appeal with a crossover audience is the often highly sophisticated referencing of fine art.1 Many picturebook artists obviously share the Danish author-illustrator Sören Jessen's view that “fine art is a great inspiration for illustrations.”2 A large number of illustrators are formally trained in the fine arts, so it is natural that they are influenced by the artists and artworks they have studied. Many illustrators admit that they initially intended to become artists. The Australian picturebook artist Tohby Riddle went to art school immediately ...
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