It was after the industrial revolution that came the Golden age of Illustrations. The demand for books for children at that time resulted in the production of classic stories and classic illustrations. These classic illustrations are actually the first love for all wannabe illustrators. Children’s book Illustrations are about 130 years ago and one of the first picture book illustrator we know was Randolph Caldecott. Many wonderous illustrators soon followed with the upcoming demand for illustrations in books.
How can someone not love and admire Peter Rabbit, Jack & Jones, Dr. Seuss, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Winnie-the-pooh, and more? We have got some memorable characters from a lot of classic children’s books which are timeless. The picture books at that time were primarily nursery rhymes, fairy tales, or small books on short stories or politics. Pastels or Bold colors and thick lines were quite common in children’s book illustrations. Even the pen and ink drawings were quite popular in children’s literature at that time. Illustrations are done in the 19th-century exhibit the lifestyle and qualities of those times in terms of clothing, architecture, behavior by characters. Many of the illustrations were quite inspired by the flora and ornamentation. You would find elements of fun, chaos, detailed pen work, intricate designs from the Victorian era, humor, simplistic sketching, tales of courage- all kinds of variety presented beautifully in the classic illustrations. Some popular children book illustrators of those times who are equally loved today are Quentin Blake, Arthur Rackham, Barbara Cooney, Clement Hurd, Eric Carle, Beatrix Potter, Maurice Sendak, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and E.H. Shepard, to name a few.
These classic children's book illustrations are not only loved by readers across the globe but also kept by illustrators for inspiration. These books which were made centuries ago are more than mere entertainment or a bedtime story. They give underlying life lessons of moral and values which are applicable even in today’s world. They have become an integral part of our homes, libraries, and art galleries.
If you as an author are a big fan of these, you can also recreate the same magic in your story. Illustrators today are using modern and contemporary techniques to create the same old-world vintage charm of pastels, detailed inking, dull muted colors, or monochromes. Just do your research and dive in to get the needed inspiration to create something for the new generation.