The Woodcutter Chopping Down The Tree
Drawing
ca. 1945 (made), 1945 (published)
ca. 1945 (made), 1945 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Although he trained as an actor, Rolf Brandt enjoyed drawing and making collages. In his native Germany he developed an interest in Dada and Surrealism and in Bauhaus artists such as Paul Klee. He moved to London from Hamburg in the early 1930s with his brother Bill (1904–83), who became famous as a photographer.
This is one of nine illustrations that Brandt made for the children’s book The Story of a Tree by Stephen McFarlane. Charting the passage of a tree from forest to sawmill to carpenter’s workshop to toyshop, the images are a charming example of illustration for children at the end of the Second World War. Brandt’s interest in Surrealism is evident in some of the illustrations, especially the cover page, where the trees take on the forms of furniture and toys.
This is one of nine illustrations that Brandt made for the children’s book The Story of a Tree by Stephen McFarlane. Charting the passage of a tree from forest to sawmill to carpenter’s workshop to toyshop, the images are a charming example of illustration for children at the end of the Second World War. Brandt’s interest in Surrealism is evident in some of the illustrations, especially the cover page, where the trees take on the forms of furniture and toys.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Gouache on paper, on card support |
| Brief description | Drawing, The Woodcutter Chopping Down the Tree, illustration for the Children's story 'The Story of A Tree' by Stephen McFarlane, Rolf Brandt, ca.1945 |
| Physical description | Gouache painting on thick paper pasted to brown cardboard support which has residual glue marks etc on back. Image is a pine tree being chopped down by a muscular, shirtless man in tiny hat, blue breeches and black boots. The animals and birds seen in previous illustration, flying off, the nesting birds with their nest of chicks between their beaks. The sky painted dark blue shading through to pale blue. Thin paper cover-sheet attached by sellotape to back. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'The Story Of A Tree / No 3 / R.A.Brandt.'
In purple crayon below this the address: 39 Belsize Pk Gdns NW3. In pencil just below the address: The story of a tree 2.3 (On the back inscribed in black ink) |
| Credit line | Given by the artist's children |
| Production | This is the design for the third illustration for the children's book 'The Story Of A Tree' by Stephen McFarlane.(The first is for the cover). The eight other designs for illustrations are also in the collection. At the time of acquisition the designs were in a wrapper labelled with the titles of the nine drawings. It was not clear if these had been assigned by artist, publisher or artist's family. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | The Story Of A Tree by Stephen McFarlane, published 1945 |
| Summary | Although he trained as an actor, Rolf Brandt enjoyed drawing and making collages. In his native Germany he developed an interest in Dada and Surrealism and in Bauhaus artists such as Paul Klee. He moved to London from Hamburg in the early 1930s with his brother Bill (1904–83), who became famous as a photographer. This is one of nine illustrations that Brandt made for the children’s book The Story of a Tree by Stephen McFarlane. Charting the passage of a tree from forest to sawmill to carpenter’s workshop to toyshop, the images are a charming example of illustration for children at the end of the Second World War. Brandt’s interest in Surrealism is evident in some of the illustrations, especially the cover page, where the trees take on the forms of furniture and toys. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.546:3-2005 |
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| Record created | December 22, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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