September 19th, 1867 - Arthur Rackham
Arthur Rackham RWS
In the late 1980s, two music industry weirdos decided that they were going to make a record, and that record was going to get to Number 1. What Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty released was mash-up between the Doctor Who theme tune and Blockbuster by The Sweet called "Doctorin' the Tardis" under the name The Timelords and it was, objectively, terrible. It went to number 1.
They then spent a couple of years releasing records under a series of names from The KLF, to The Justified Ancients of MuMu and The JAMS, featuring sampled beats, techno, house, rock and duets with Tammy Wynette.
In 1992 and the annual British Phonographic Industry awards, the British equivalent of the Grammys, they performed a version of one of their hits, 3AM Eternal, with grindcore group Extreme Noise Terror which was notable for the ending when Drummond machine-gunned the crowd. Which nobody knew he was going to do and caused absolute mayhem. Luckily he was firing blanks. They promptly announced their retirement from the industry.
They reappeared a few years later with something even more controversial in 1994 when they went to a remote Scottish island and filmed themselves burning £1 million in cash. In the 30 years since, nobody has ever been able to totally confirm whether the performance was just art or whether they, as they insist, did actually burn the money. Quite a lot of heavily burned money was recovered from the sea, but they filmed themselves throwing £50 notes onto a fire. To this day, they still insist they burned at least £900,000 of the money and the rest flew up the chimney.
Every now and then they pop up again to do something outrageous, even though Drummond is now in his 70s and Cauty 67 years old. And, being British, nobody would have it any other way. This sort of bizarre nonsense is what makes Britain a marvellous nation.
Why am I telling you this in an article about the illustrator Arthur Rackham? Well, Arthur was one of the finest book illustrators of all time, and his work in the area of fairy tales and fantasy was incredibly influential for anyone who has ever worked in that area. It’s a great shame, in 20th-century literature, that Arthur died before his work could overlap with that of JRR Tolkien. If Arthur Rackham had ever illustrated Lord of the Rings, then the results would have been spectacular. Unfortunately, Arthur died in 1939, and Lord of the Rings wasn’t published until 1954.
However, in the 1970s, a young artist drew a Lord of the Rings poster for the publisher Athena, which sold hundreds of thousands of copies, making it one of the best-selling posters ever. Anyone who was into that sort of thing in the ‘70s, ‘80s and beyond had the Athena Lord of the Rings poster. I had one. And the 17-year-old kid who drew that poster and was given £500 for doing so was Jimmy Cauty of the KLF. And his art was inspired by Arthur Rackham.
Arthur Rackham, born on September 19, 1867, in London, England, is widely regarded as one of the most influential illustrators of the early 20th century. His work, distinguished by its dark, whimsical, and intricately detailed style, left a lasting mark on the world of book illustration. Rackham's art brought to life some of the most beloved fairy tales, myths, and classic stories, enchanting audiences of all ages with his unique vision.
Rackham was the fourth of twelve children born to Alfred Thomas Rackham and Anne Stevenson. From a young age, Rackham showed a keen interest in drawing and storytelling. His artistic talents were encouraged by his parents, who allowed him to pursue art despite the financial difficulties of raising a large family. Rackham’s formal education began at the City of London School, where his artistic skills were noticed and nurtured. At the age of 18, he began working as a clerk at the Westminster Fire Office, a job he took to support himself while attending evening classes at the Lambeth School of Art. During this time, he honed his craft, experimenting with different techniques and learning the fundamentals that would define his later work.
Rackham’s career as an illustrator began in earnest in the 1890s when he started contributing to various periodicals and newspapers, including The Pall Mall Budget and The Westminster Gazette. His early work was characterized by a blend of humor and a slightly eerie quality, which would become his signature style. In 1893, Rackham left his job as a clerk to work full-time as an illustrator, a decision that marked the beginning of a prolific career.
Rackham’s big break came in 1900 with his illustrations for The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. The book, filled with his distinctive line work and delicate watercolours, was a commercial success and cemented Rackham’s reputation as a leading illustrator. His illustrations were noted for their intricate detail, dreamlike atmosphere, and the ability to capture the darker, more sinister aspects of fairy tales. This balance of beauty and menace became a hallmark of Rackham’s work, setting him apart from his contemporaries.
In 1905, Rackham illustrated Rip Van Winkle, a project that further showcased his evolving style. The illustrations combined realism with a fantastical quality, and the book was a critical and commercial triumph. Rackham’s use of muted colours, fine lines, and his ability to convey movement and emotion made the illustrations feel alive. The success of Rip Van Winkle established Rackham as a master of the craft, and his work began to attract the attention of publishers and collectors across Europe and America.
Rackham’s illustrations for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906) solidified his place as one of the premier illustrators of his time. J.M. Barrie’s beloved character, depicted through Rackham’s lens, took on a magical and melancholic air, perfectly capturing the wistful nature of the story. Rackham’s Peter Pan was not just a playful child but a complex figure, embodying both innocence and mischief. The success of this project further fueled Rackham’s rise, and his illustrations were celebrated for their ability to evoke both wonder and nostalgia.
Throughout his career, Rackham worked on many iconic projects, including illustrations for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Wind in the Willows. Each project allowed Rackham to explore new themes and styles, but his work consistently displayed a keen attention to detail and a deep understanding of the text. Rackham often infused his illustrations with a sense of movement and drama, drawing viewers into the narrative. His ability to visualize the fantastical with a touch of the macabre made his work particularly suited to tales of fantasy and folklore.
Rackham’s artistic process was meticulous and labour-intensive. He often began with detailed pencil sketches, which he would refine before adding ink and watercolour. His use of pen and ink, combined with subtle watercolour washes, created a unique effect that brought his illustrations to life. Rackham was also known for his attention to the interplay of light and shadow, which added depth and atmosphere to his work. His illustrations often featured elongated figures, twisted trees, and misty landscapes, creating an otherworldly feel that perfectly complemented the stories he illustrated.
Despite his immense popularity, Rackham faced criticism from some quarters. His work was often described as too dark or unsettling for children, and some critics felt that his illustrations overshadowed the stories themselves. However, Rackham’s defenders argued that his ability to capture the complexities of fairy tales—their beauty, danger, and moral ambiguity—was precisely what made his work so powerful. Rackham’s illustrations were not mere embellishments; they were integral to the storytelling, adding layers of meaning and emotion.
As his career progressed, Rackham continued to work on high-profile projects, including The Romance of King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table (1917) and The Compleat Angler (1931). He adapted to changing tastes and technologies, experimenting with new printing techniques and embracing the rise of color illustration. Even as illustration became more commercialized, Rackham maintained a commitment to artistry and craftsmanship, ensuring that each of his works was a piece of art in its own right.
Arthur Rackham’s influence on the field of illustration cannot be overstated. His style, characterized by its intricate detail, atmospheric quality, and a blend of whimsy and darkness, continues to inspire artists and illustrators to this day. Rackham’s ability to bring stories to life with his art, capturing the imagination of readers, young and old, remains his enduring legacy. He passed away on September 6, 1939, leaving behind a body of work that continues to captivate and enchant.
Rackham’s illustrations are celebrated not only for their beauty but also for their ability to transcend the page, inviting viewers into a world of magic, mystery, and imagination. His work remains a testament to the power of illustration to transform the written word, creating visual experiences that linger long after the story has been told.
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The care and detail he put into his drawings is quite obvious.