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Inserts in "Illustration 63"

In a happy event in August of 2007, I discovered at Antiquariat Rolf & Monika Ihring in Berlin Schöneberg signed illustrations 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 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 "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.  Apparently, the magazine died after seventy-nine issues.  Then, as I have worked my way through earlier acquisitions not yet catalogued, I have come upon fifteen such inserts from various issues.   $110 for the fifteen from Paul Dufrasne, Berlin, Germany, Nov.-Dec., '00.  Here they are:

 

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.

Eduard Prüssen, FC, woodcut. 7" x 10¼". Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 3. 1980

A beautiful ink drawing featuring the fox and the crow. The expressions on the faces of the fox and the crow accurately depict the strong emotions of the story.

 

Helmut Ackermann: "The Wolf and the Goat," linocut and initial. 6¾" x 9½". Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 3. 1981.

Our gaze may find the attacking dogs only after a few moments; we get distracted just as the wolf does.

Helmut Ackermann: FC, linocut and initial. 7½" x 11". Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 3. 1980

For me, the raised paw is the crucial element of this piece.

Klaus Eberlein, FC, four-colored linocut. Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 1. 1981

The perspective size of the characters is fascinating here.  This fox waits patiently.

 

Peter Kleinschmidt: "Fox and Grapes," linocut for Flupp Hugats Sprachspiel-Variation of an Aesopic fable. 6¾" x 9½". Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 1. 1979

Is that second fox the disgruntled fox departing the scene after being frustrated?

Walther Kohlhase, "Fox and Grapes," woodcut for Flupp Hugat's third variation of an Aesopic fable. 5¾" x 7½". Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 1. 1979

This woodcut testifies to the fable tradition that went from Aesop to Hugat to Kohlhase.

 

Herbert F. Plahl, "The Statue-Seller," woodcut. Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 1. 1969

Are we seeing the seller the way Hermes did after the offer to "throw in" the Hermes statue at no cost?

Annette Ziegler, "Der Kreissende Berg," two-colored linocut. 6¾" x 9½". Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 1. 1973

Are we right to feel some confusion as we make our way into this presentation?

Eugen von Zitzewitz, UP, three-colored linocut. 7½" x 10½". Beilage zu Illustration 63, Heft 2. 1981

Might the direction of the fox be eloquent here?  Departing frightened and revealed, perhaps?