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Fairy Tales with Their Background

Pin board about fairy tales, especially about articles dealing with their background, different themes, surprising characteristics, symbolism, etc. Each pin, of course, is a copy of an interesting vintage illustration by one of the old masters - all of them are in public domain.
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Cloud That Had No Lining is one of the fairy stories from the book Fairies I Have Met, written by Maud Margaret Key Stawell, who signed herself as Rodolph Stawell. Dulac did a tremendous job with illustrations, which are the main reason this book became a collectible item.
The White Cat is a fairy tale by Madame d'Aulnoy. It belongs to the 'animal bride' group and was quite popular at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Warwick Goble illustrated it in his recognizable style.
A Little Girl in a Book is one of a dozen short stories in Fairies I Have Met written by Maud Margaret Key Stawell (1865-1949). The book features simple tales with magical beings in crucial roles. Edmund Dulac's illustrations in Art Nouveau style are a special treat for collectors.

Fairies

13 Pins
Snow White and Rose Red is a fairy tale about two nice girls (sisters), an enchanted bear, and a wicked dwarf. The dwarf is by far the most interesting character in the story, which is from the famous collection by the Grimm Brothers.
Snow White is in danger. Her stepmother wants her dead. The dwarfs give her a shelter. But we all know this can't work in the long term, don't we? The eternal themes and rich symbolism of this classic by the Grimm Brothers make Snow White (the dwarfs only later became entitled to be part of the title - pun intended) one of the most popular fairy tales on the planet.
The miller's daughter is in a dilemma. To die in the morning or to promise her nonexistent firstborn to the little man who can spin straw into gold? She gives her word and hopes she won't have to keep it. But the little man demands his rights. Luckily, the girl, who, in the meantime, became a princess, gets another chance...

Dwarfs

27 Pins
Count Franz Graf von Pocci was a writer and illustrator who became famous for his work on fairy tales. The witch from Hansel and Gretel is a typical stereotype, with an extremely large nose, a walking stick, and a black cat. Check out a complete set of his illustrations from Hansel and Gretel.
Baby Yaga is a fairy creature from Russian folklore. She is much more complex than most witches from Western fairy tradition. A hero of the story often has to face her (in most cases in her strange looking hut presented in the photo) and prove he (she) is worthy of her help. Otherwise...
One of the crucial reasons for a successful story is the ability to read it on different levels. Hansel and Gretel by the Grimm Brothers is a perfect example. Here are ten themes you can easily find in the fairy tale. They are explained in simple language and with attractive illustrations. Read and learn.

Witches

38 Pins
Tom Thumb is actually a French predecessor of Hansel and Gretel, but we can also find it in several editions of the Grimm Brothers' collection. Here, we can see how the youngest of seven kids tries to steal seven-league boots, a symbol of power and adulthood. Check out the article about vintage German illustrators!
Jack and the Beanstalk is a classic British fairy tale about a fatherless boy who steals precious stuff from a giant. W. W. Denslow rewrote and illustrated the story in his signature style. His version of the story is not outstanding, but his illustrations are.
Brave Little Tailor (Seven at One Blow) is a story about a tailor's climbing up the social ladder. He is not just brave but smart and resourceful as well. One of the bonus lessons of the story is disclosed at the end. It's not enough to achieve your goal. You have to be prepared to defend it, too.

Giants

26 Pins
Catherine d'Aulnoy was an interesting woman with an intriguing biography. Her CV included espionage, conspiracy, illegitimate children, etc. Still, history remembers her as the person who coined the phrase 'fairy tale.' She also wrote many fairy tales, but they are mostly forgotten. (illustration by Walter Crane)
The Devil and his Granmother is a dark fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers. The story deal with important life questions about life and death. Three soldiers start with two bad options and are soon forced to chose from two even worse options. Unknowingly, they have made a deal with a devil. What are their chances to defeat a mighty opponent? If you are looking for something dark, but with an optimistic ending, this one may be the one.
Andromeda has to be sacrificed to a sea monster to Save Aethiopia from destruction. But Perseus has other plans. An epic fight is inevitable. The motif of the lady in distress and a the hero, who has to slay the dragon is present in art for several thousand years!

Dragons

4 Pins
Little Mermaid is probably the most famous fairy tale by H. C. Andersen. Only a few people know that the story is largely based on the author's real experiences. It's a tale about obsession with a tragic ending, in this case, with splendid Art Nouveau illustrations by Ivan Bilibin.
According to several legends, Rhine hides large amounts of gold. But his gold is guarded by three water spirits. We can call them mermaids if we want. Wagner gave them an important place in his works, and many other artists, including Arthur Rackham, were fascinated with them, as well. Do you know any other famous mermaids?
Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen is one of the best fairy tales ever written. Still, it has a few flaws: the ending by Andersen, who was obviously too influenced by the autobiographical elements in the story, and, of course, Disney's remake with several crucial changes, which otherwise great story changed into - just a story. Bilibin, however, did a tremendous job illustrating Little Mermaid in his version of Art Nouveau style.

Mermaids

12 Pins
an illustration of a man and woman in bed
Old Children's Books
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Cinderella (Aschenputtel) - Max Teschemacher (1910-1950)
Aschenputtel is the German version of Cinderella. It's basically the same as the most popular version by Charles Perrault. The main difference is a bloody revenge at the end of the story and the absence of a good fairy. The intro is the same - when the mother dies, her daughter has to face many challenges.
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Warwick Goble
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Baby Pearls
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The White Cat - Warwick Goble (1862-1943)
The White Cat is a fairy tale by Madame d'Aulnoy. It belongs to the 'animal bride' group and was quite popular at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Warwick Goble illustrated it in his recognizable style.
Juniper Tree is one of the most gruesome fairy tales in the collection of the Grimm Brothers. The portrayed scene by Ubbelohde illustrates the stepmother's intention to take off the her stepson's head. Still, the story continues in way darker notes!
Juniper Tree - Utto Ubbelohde (1867-1922)
Juniper Tree is one of the most gruesome fairy tales in the collection of the Grimm Brothers. The portrayed scene by Ubbelohde illustrates the stepmother's intention to take off the her stepson's head. Still, the story continues in way darker notes!
George Baxter was an artist, printer, and inventor. He could achieve much more if he wasn't so obsessed with perfection, which caused him to be too slow on too many occasions. The painting of Little Red Riding Hood is one of his best-known works, but it's actually a creation of his imitator.
Little Red Riding Hood - George Baxter (1804-1867)
George Baxter was an artist, printer, and inventor. He could achieve much more if he wasn't so obsessed with perfection, which caused him to be too slow on too many occasions. The painting of Little Red Riding Hood is one of his best-known works, but it's actually a creation of his imitator.
Cloud That Had No Lining is one of the fairy stories from the book Fairies I Have Met, written by Maud Margaret Key Stawell, who signed herself as Rodolph Stawell. Dulac did a tremendous job with illustrations, which are the main reason this book became a collectible item.
Cloud That Had No Lining - Edmund Dulac (1882-1953)
Cloud That Had No Lining is one of the fairy stories from the book Fairies I Have Met, written by Maud Margaret Key Stawell, who signed herself as Rodolph Stawell. Dulac did a tremendous job with illustrations, which are the main reason this book became a collectible item.
Birthday of Infanta is one of the fairy tales written by Oscar Wilde. It's a story of abuse of one's power everybody can learn from it. It doesn't end happily ever after, which makes it even more memorable. The same is true for Jessie Marion King's splendid artwork.
Birthday of Infanta - Jessie Marion King (1875-1949)
Birthday of Infanta is one of the fairy tales written by Oscar Wilde. It's a story of abuse of one's power everybody can learn from it. It doesn't end happily ever after, which makes it even more memorable. The same is true for Jessie Marion King's splendid artwork.
Beauty and the Beast is the best-known work by EVB, as she signed her works. It's an interesting combination of both versions of the story with six daughters (older version) but short text (more recent version, which is still popular). She combined color paintings with black-and-white drawings.
Beauty and the Beast - Eleanor Vere Boyle (1825-1916)
Beauty and the Beast is the best-known work by EVB, as she signed her works. It's an interesting combination of both versions of the story with six daughters (older version) but short text (more recent version, which is still popular). She combined color paintings with black-and-white drawings.
Count Franz Graf von Pocci was a writer and illustrator who became famous for his work on fairy tales. The witch from Hansel and Gretel is a typical stereotype, with an extremely large nose, a walking stick, and a black cat. Check out a complete set of his illustrations from Hansel and Gretel.
Hansel and Gretel (the Witch) - Franz von Pocci (1807-1876)
Count Franz Graf von Pocci was a writer and illustrator who became famous for his work on fairy tales. The witch from Hansel and Gretel is a typical stereotype, with an extremely large nose, a walking stick, and a black cat. Check out a complete set of his illustrations from Hansel and Gretel.
Marianne Stokes was an Austrian painter best known for her landscape paintings. This oil painting, however, illustrates a scene from the Grimms' fairy tale Brother and Sister. The boy is turned into a deer, and the girl has to take care of him.
Brother and Sister - Marianne Stokes (1855-1927)
Marianne Stokes was an Austrian painter best known for her landscape paintings. This oil painting, however, illustrates a scene from the Grimms' fairy tale Brother and Sister. The boy is turned into a deer, and the girl has to take care of him.
Jean-Pierre Claris Florian (1755-1794) is today an almost unknown poet who wrote a book of fables similar to Aesop's. He wrote them in verse in the tradition of La Fontaine, but his book stayed with a French-speaking audience. Still, illustrations by Benjamin Rabier make Florian's fables a special treat for every lover of vintage art.
The Lion and the Leopard - Benjamin Rabier (1864-1939)
Jean-Pierre Claris Florian (1755-1794) is today an almost unknown poet who wrote a book of fables similar to Aesop's. He wrote them in verse in the tradition of La Fontaine, but his book stayed with a French-speaking audience. Still, illustrations by Benjamin Rabier make Florian's fables a special treat for every lover of vintage art.
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a log cabin in the middle of winter with snow on the ground and birds flying around
Baba Yaga Hut
Baby Yaga is a fairy creature from Russian folklore. She is much more complex than most witches from Western fairy tradition. A hero of the story often has to face her (in most cases in her strange looking hut presented in the photo) and prove he (she) is worthy of her help. Otherwise...
an illustration of two people standing in front of a door with flowers and vines on it
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp - Rene Bull (1872-1942)
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp is probably the best-known fairy tale from the collection known as Arabian Nights or 1001 Nights. It's a story about an irresponsible boy who needs to grow up while he faces numerous challenges. Find out more about this splendid collection of magical fairy tales.
two pages from an old book with black and white illustrations
The Mercury and the Woodman - Charles Robinson (1870-1937)
The Mercury and the Woodman is Aesop's fable about a man who lost his axe and was rewarded for his honesty. His colleague, on the other hand, wasn't. It's a simple, rewarding tale with countless implications presented in striking Art Nouveau style by Charles Robinson.
an illustration of two women walking in the woods with trees and flowers behind them, one holding her hand out to another woman
Nennillo and Nennella (Pentamerone) - Warwick Goble (1862-1943)
Nenillo and Nenella is an old version of Brother and Sister (Little Brother and Little Sister), a bit less-known fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers. Nenillo and Nenella was written by Giambattista Basile and published in Pentamerone, a collection of fairy tales from 1634 that inspired numerous fairy tale writers, including Charles Perrault and the Grimms.