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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23<br />
Willy Pogány (Hungarian, 1882–1955, author-illustrator)<br />
Mo<strong>the</strong>r Goose<br />
New York: Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1928<br />
24 x 19 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.28.8784<br />
Gift of <strong>Peter</strong> J. <strong>Solomon</strong>, 2020<br />
Willy Pogány enjoyed considerable success as a book<br />
illustrator. The art for his 1915 edition of Mo<strong>the</strong>r Goose<br />
Rhymes echoed Victorian imagery, while his celebrated<br />
1928 version reflected <strong>the</strong> current Art Deco style. The<br />
typography was as important as <strong>the</strong> illustrations. The<br />
Mo<strong>the</strong>r Goose on <strong>the</strong> cover is simply a goose with no h<strong>in</strong>t<br />
of anthropomorphism, and <strong>the</strong> surround<strong>in</strong>g art suggests<br />
<strong>the</strong> Pennsylvania Dutch “Fraktur” pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g whose folk-art<br />
quality was fashionable at <strong>the</strong> time.<br />
57
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