Sunday, July 29, 2007

Wanda Gag


Wanda Hazel Gág was born on March 11, 1893 in New Ulm, Minnesota. I wish I had known Wanda Gag. She wrote and illustrated "Millions of Cats" in 1928. It's one of my favorite children's books. Here is a photo of the French version. "Millions of Cats" was named a Newbery Honor Book the year it came out. Gág is credited with being the first artist to utilize the double-page spread and to revive hand lettered text. Her pen and ink drawings have this incredible sense of rhythm. They flow up and down and all around...from page to page. Wanda also exhibited her fine art in NYC galleries and she was a friend of Georgia O'Keefe. I never knew that. It seems she was a very clever artist indeed. She is even sporting a Louise Brooks hairdo in this attractive photo.
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