Amusing Pictures from Typ to Adorn the Nursery. First Series.

An unrecorded possibly all-published portfolio of 9 color prints

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“To Adorn the Nursery”
This amusing portfolio, or others that may have been in this series, are not found on OCLC.  Its 9 color prints offers a humorous look at childhood. Intended as decorations for the nursery, the prints evoke the style of 19th century “vinegar Valentines” as well as the early 20th century illustrations of W.W. Denslow (1856–1915) and Maxfield Parrish (1870–1966).

The illustrations by “Typ” show children at play or play-acting as adults. Exaggerated faces and attributes combined with laconic captions create a comic scene that gently pokes fun at each character.

Unlike vinegar Valentines which could be cruel, these prints are light and fun. For example, the print entitled “A Sly Cook” shows a boy-chef about to put a rather alarmed cat into the cooking pot. “Miss Sophie Starts for a Visit” shows a girl so dressed up for visiting friends that her little dog is taken aback by the display.

W.W. Denslow, Maxfield Parrish and an Earlier Precedent
With their large fields of saturated color and large, comic faces, the drawings evoke the contemporary style of Wizard of Oz illustrator, W.W. Denslow. Two drawings depict a wooden toy duck, an image used by Denslow.

The print captioned “A Celebrated Artist” shows a young boy holding an out-sized palette painting at an easel. Both the image and caption are reminiscent of Maxfield Parrish’s 1909 painting, The Artist, Sex, Male. This apparent reference helps to date the prints.

“Amusing Pictures from Typ”
An ad on the rear flap of the portfolio advertises that a “Second Series” of prints was intended to be published as well, but it may not have been.

None of the prints or the portfolio’s cover illustration are signed by the artist. The title of the portfolio, Amusing Pictures from Typ…, may suggest the artist used the pseudonym “Typ” as a play on the word “type.”

Price: $300.00