Animals Are Us: Anthropomorphism in Children’s Literature; Celebrating the Peter J. Solomon Collection
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre. Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
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9<br />
Jean-Baptiste Oudry (French, 1686–1755)<br />
Illustration for Jean de La Fonta<strong>in</strong>e’s fable “La chauve<br />
souris, le buisson, et le canard,” 1733<br />
Ink, wash, and gouache, 31 x 26 cm<br />
Houghton Library, MS Typ 674<br />
Gift of Philip Hofer, 1979<br />
La Fonta<strong>in</strong>e’s fables <strong>in</strong>spired artist Jean-Baptiste Oudry<br />
to create 276 highly f<strong>in</strong>ished <strong>in</strong>k, wash, and gouache<br />
illustrations over five years, a testament to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluence<br />
of <strong>the</strong> publication. Oudry’s <strong>in</strong>dependent compositions,<br />
notable for <strong>the</strong>ir depth and tonality, <strong>in</strong>spired an<br />
illustrated edition of La Fonta<strong>in</strong>e’s fables <strong>in</strong> 1755. Here,<br />
Oudry elim<strong>in</strong>ates any human element from <strong>the</strong> fable,<br />
represent<strong>in</strong>g only <strong>the</strong> three key figures of <strong>the</strong> bat, bush,<br />
and duck who failed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir collective bus<strong>in</strong>ess enterprise.<br />
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