Illustration Chronicles
Born on this day [27 Apr]: Austro-American illustrator, writer, humorist and artist Ludwig Bemelmans (1898–1962)
Bemelmans is best known for his beloved 'Madeline' book series – a collection of rhymed picturebooks that focus on the adventures of a Parisian schoolgirl and her classmates.
Born in the Tyrolian town of Meran, Bemelmans travelled to New York at the age of 16 and spent the next several years working at hotels and restaurants. In 1926 he began to peruse cartooning as a full-time profession and a string of small jobs followed. Yet, it wasn't until 1934 that he eventually turned to writing. 'Hansi' (1934) was the first of Bemelmans' fifteen books for children and it marked him out as a talent to watch.
Bemelmans continued to write and travel throughout his life, spending most of his time in New York or Paris. He generally wrote one or two books a year – covering everything from children's books and novels to short stories and travel books. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, he was a frequent cover contributor for The New Yorker and he was also a passionate painter whose whimsical murals gained much acclaim.
The first Madeline book was published in 1939 and the second one – Madeline's Rescue (1953) – was the winner of that year's Caldecott Medal. Three more titles followed, and an additional two books were published posthumously.
Today, Madeline is considered to be one of the major classics of children's literature, and her story continues to be popular with young readers all over the world. In 2008, Bemelmans' youngest grandson, John Bemelmans Marciano, carried on his grandfather’s legacy by writing and illustrating further Madeline stories which he wrote and illustrated in his grandfather's style.
Seen here: The New Yorker, June 24th, 1950
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