Figure 1.--This was the cover to an English book, "Our Boys' Best of All". The illustrator was not identified and we do not know when the book was published, but the 1930s is likely. Click on the image for an assessment of the clothing shown.
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Figure 1.--This was the cover to an English book, "Our Boys' Best of All". The illustrator was not identified and we do not know when the book was published, but the 1930s is likely. Click on the image for an assessment of the clothing shown. |
Some reader have suggested the use of illustrations, especially illustrations in children's books as a valuable potential sourc of information on children's fashions. Other HBC readers have asked why HBC has addressed the subject of illustrators. They are concerned about the potential inaccuracy of illustrators. HBC certainly agrees, that unlike actual photographs, some care needs to be taken on assessing illustrations. HBC believes, however, that these illustrations and illustrators are important because they provide an important view of childhood and childhood fashions. Our primary interest is that they provide clothing in context. Rather than just a static studio image, illutrations often show children involved in some activity, providing insights into the conventions for wearing specific garments. In addition the images show someone's view. In some case they are realistic depictions. In other instances they are idealized depictions. Even so, HBC considers idealized depictions of some interst. It is fascinating to see how contempraty observers think childhood should be and what children should wear. Not what adults think children should wear and what children want to war provide interesting insights into different historical periods.
Some reader have suggested the use of illustrations, especially illustrations in children's books as a valuable potential sourc of information on children's fashions. A HBC reader comments, "Surely there must be room to highlight their illustrations of childrens books in contemporary times. Through the years I have realized that contemporary illustrations of childrens books
must surely be a vast field on it's own and some illustrators have made outstanding contributions. Indeed I have noted that even some 'basic' illustrations that are superbly done and illustrate many important children's fashions."
Some HBC readers have asked why HBC has addressed the subject of illustrators. They are concerned about the potential inaccuracy of illustrators. HBC certainly agrees, that unlike actual photographs, some care needs to be taken on assessing illustrations.
HBC believes, however, that these illustrations and illustrators are important because they provide an important view of childhood and childhood fashions. Our primary interest is that they provide clothing in context. Rather than just a static studio image, illutrations often show children involved in some activity, providing insights into the conventions for wearing specific garments.
In addition the images show someone's view. In some case they are realistic depictions. In other instances they are idealized depictions. Even so, HBC considers idealized depictions of some interst. It is fascinating to see how contempraty observers think childhood should be and what children should wear. Not what adults think children should wear and what children want to wear provide interesting insights into different historical periods. It is also interesting to peruse fantasy books to see how illustrators in any given period interpreted what the boyswear should be. In much the same way that charactures of individuals by cartoonists are oftn visually inaccurate, they often provide either insights into the individuals or inights in how they are viewed. The same is true of fashion and of interest to HBC. One particularly interesting example jhere are the Grahame Johnstone sisters.
Extensive information is often not avaiable on the ividual illustrators themselves. HBC is attempting to collect information, but except for a few well-known illustrators has had only limited success. Many illustrators had wonderful skills. Unfortunately in many cases the namesof the illustrators are not provided.
Many children's books are done in series. Some are famous. Others are rather obscure. Two of the most famous of course is Enid Blyton's "Secret Seven" and "Famous Five". The somewhat 'basic looking' illustrations in the book are outstanding and show an artist of immense skill that can capture childhod activitie and fashions with the most basic lines. One HBC reader is especially impressed with Thomas Henry who captured Richmal Crompton's 'William' as no-one else could. Eileen Soper's original illustrations of Blyton's "The Famous Five" and "Secret Seven" are just as noteworthy. One HBC reader mentions the Ladybird series in particular, but HBC is not familiar with that series. Even obscure books can have wonderful line drawings.
Often illustrators drew imaginative scenes, but many other realistically illustrated fashion. HBC in this respect sees illustrators depicting contemprary fashion of particular importance in terms of obtaining information on children's clothing. HBC agrees, especially illustrations depicting stories set and published in contemprary periods. Many publishers wanted accurate depictions, beliving that they would make the books sell better. THis can be seen in the decission by many publishers to "update" the illustrations in many classic children's books.
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