Tuesday, January 13, 2015

TIBOR GERGELY


We know the year in which artist Tibor Gergely was born---1900---but not the month. I've chosen to begin 2015's Birthdays of the Month with this gifted ilustrator. You may not be familiar with his name---



---but you certainly know his work.


In fact, it might be difficult to find someone who does NOT know his work.
Illustration from "The Fire Engine Book"

His Golden Books are still in print, still being read by children years after they were first published---and TOOTLE and SCUFFY THE TUGBOAT are among the top ten all-time best-sellers of children's books.
Piece of original art (note the crop marks) from "The Happy Man and His Dump Truck"

Note, also, that Gergely is yet another gifted artist who fled as a refugee to this country from the turmoil and upheaval of the 30's and 40's in Europe and Eastern Europe, and who worked for either Disney or Golden Books. People often turn up their noses at Golden Books. Don't! The art directors and editors at that establishment had an unerring eye for top-notch talent. 

I hope you will go to the link below---to an exceptionally informative and interesting website---and find out more about the life and work of this superb, multi-talented artist.

http://www.tiborgergely.com/site/Home.html

4 comments:

  1. Continuing to enjoy these informative posts. What a wonderful idea!

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  2. Thanks, Wendy! Of course, I recognized the art instantly, with a catch in the throat--but I never knew the artist.

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  3. LOVE his illustrations, but never knew his name! Yes, these are (almost) all familiar to me. I love the cello-playing giraffes; did not recognize that one!

    I still love the older Golden Books. That was the first publisher I worked for in NYC, back in 1983 or -4, I believe. They also held license to illustrate many Disney character stories. Pretty interesting company indeed.

    Thanks so much for sharing the art of illustrators throughout history, Wendy!

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  4. Very moving to be reconnected with this man's images- you're right, as far as I can say- I certainly knew the work.

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