I spotted this oversized book/folio at an antique show last weekend and was sold on the cover alone--I could look at that dark gray whiskered creature against soft yellow ground all day long. Happily, there is a color plate of it, along with fifteen more loose color plates, inside. And a matching size 8 page booklet, with more examples of extraordinary works by children. Produced by Muller & Kiepenheuer Verlag for Pantheon Books and published in 1952, the works included were selected by painter Richard Ott, who, informed by his experience with children enrolled at the America House in Munich, argues for the centering of art education in the elementary school. ("Our school does not furnish models of any kind. Everything is left to free association and free choice.") Also included is an excellent preface by British art critic Herbert Read. "Every child lives in a world of imagery which is far more real than the world of appearances... given the means, the child will express these images naturally and with great effectiveness."
Photos give a good sense, and include documentation of all of the color plates. I've included a few favorites first, then documented more systematically. Very few copies of this out there, and it's a wonderful thing.
New York: Pantheon Books, Inc., [1952]. Hardcover, 14 1/8" x 11 1/2". Plates as mounted 14 1/8" x 11 3/8". Inside is 8 page paper booklet, black and white, plus 16 of 17 original individual loose color plates held in paper pocket at back. Ex-library (which pretty much every single copy of this I've found record of is/was). Wear to covers and spine as shown, with tape along spine visible along front and back cover edges. Booklet and plates in good condition, each color plate mounted to cream paper by top corners. Tears to that backing paper the case of the cover plate only, as documented--no tears, losses or creases, etc. to any of the plates
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