Inserts in "Illustration 63"
Signed inserts to Illustration 63
In a happy event probably in August of 2007, I discovered at Antiquariat Rolf & Monika Ihring in Berlin Schöneberg a set of signed illustrations of fables presented as inserts in the magazine Illustration 63. I had not known of the magazine. They had several copies, and I looked through them. Not surprisingly, there were many fables represented in the good artworks reproduced in the issues. I found two copies especially nicely done and took them along. Each issue of the magazine includes a set of "Beilagen," individual pieces printed on their own and included inside the back cover. Most are about 15½" x 11½" folded once in the middle, with text on the left and strong illustration on the right. Only Ackeermann’s “Ass and Crow” is a single sheet 7.8” x 11.5”. Apparently, the magazine died after seventy-nine issues. Here are some of those “Beilagen.”
FC
Archibald Bajorat
Woodcut, Heft 3/1980
The three-color approach here seems to me to highlight especially the liveliness of the fox. Is that the cheese already in his mouth as he runs away happy?
Ass and Crow
Helmut Ackermann
A crow pecks at the wound on the back of an ass and the ass jumps about bellowing. His master laughs. A wolf sees it all and mutters “When men see us, they attack us as plunderers. When they see this bird plunder, they laugh.” The key to Ackermann’s approach may well be the look on the ass’s face.
Eagle and Fox
Helmut Ackermann
Linocut, Heft 2/1972
This is the story of divine revenge wrought against the eagle who had consumed the young of his supposed friend, the fox. The fox could do little to get revenge, but the eagle robbed a burnt sacrifice and some glowing coals came along and burned the next. The eagle’s young fell to the ground, where the fox eagerly consumed them. Might Ackermann be asking us to look especially at the eagle. Repentant or regretful perhaps? Two copies.
Ass and Lion
Klaus Eberlein
Four-color linocut, Heft 2/1972
The ass greets the lion arrogantly “Greetings, brother!” The lion wonders about avenging himself against his lesser, but decides that there is no honor in defeating so unworthy an opponent. Does the lion’s face here represent a momentary reaction of “What?” or perhaps a practiced snub?
Turtle and Eagle
Otto Schlosser
Linocut, Heft 2/1974
This is a story of arrogance punished: the turtle persists in asking the eagle to teach him to fliy. I believe Schlosser has chosen the moment in which the eagle grasps the turtle from its natural setting to lift it up high in the air – only, of course, to drop it on the rocks.
Birdcatcher and Snake
Herbert F. Pfahl
Woodcut, Heft 3/1970
In this particularly vigorous piece, Pfahl presents a robust birdcatcher intent on a particular bird. We, like the birdcatcher, may hardly notice the snake that is delivering a deadly bite in his leg. Those who dig a ditch for others often fall into it themselves.