Author Description

From the end of the 19th century to 1938, many children's books of artistic importance were published in Vienna. This publication is devoted to this special genre of book art, which at that time ranked in importance alongside architecture, painting, literature, music and theatre. The illustrations of notable artists such as C. O. Czeschka, Heinrich Lefler, Bertold Loffler, Koloman Moser, as well as those of numerous, talented - though as yet unknown - graphic artists are evidence of the variety of high quality works produced. Moreover, the selected children's books, divided into four chapters (I. From Monarchy to Republic, II. Bourgeois Life, III. The Modern World, IV. New Teaching Methods) can be seen in the political, social and economic context concerned. As part of daily culture, they reflect contemporary realities and utopias, which at this stage are still revealed to children by means of the 'picture book'. In a fifth chapter (V. Art for Children - Children's Art), aesthetic developments and artistic possibilities of expression are put into visual form. The historical children's book in particular reveals impressively individual artistic craftsmanship, and styles and modes typical of particular epochs. Based on around one hundred works, the publication charts not only the history of the development of the modern children's book in Vienna, but also that of the modern book art overall. Published to accompany the exhibition Jugendschatz und Wunderscherlein at MAK-KunstblÄttersaal, Vienna, October 2009 – February 2010. English and German text.