Number 1093
The Sorceror's Apprentice
This isn't the "Sorceror's Apprentice" most of us are familiar with from the Walt Disney classic, Fantasia: no Mickey Mouse or brooms carrying water.
The artwork is by someone comic art historians Hames Ware and Jim Vadeboncoeur called "THE Great Unknown." The artwork is very good, but doesn't look familiar to me. If you know who it is please tell us.
From Fairy Tale Parade, Dell Four Color #114, 1946:
I may be all wrong, but I think perhaps the answer may be right under your nose, down the page: it's Walt Kelly. Both the drawing style and the font in the word balloons lead to the sort of work Kelly did in the mid-'40s.
ReplyDeleteDougieD, you're right, I think you're wrong. The art isn't by Walt Kelly, although the artist seems to have taken some inspiration from Kelly.
ReplyDeletethis is amazing stuff, whoever it is!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why but this artist reminds me of the stuff in the Uncle Wiggily books Western was publishing at the time...possibly it's George Carlson???...but the inking is too neat to be him.
It would have to be one of Western's premier illustrators to be in Fairy Tale Parade...
Bob, one of the things about artists of this era is that they had so many fantastic artists like Kay Nielson, Arthur Rackham, etc., to look to for inspiration for fantasy/fairy tale art. This artist looks to have been inspired by those illustrators.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fascinating topic but let me caution everyone about guessing: Jim Vadeboncoeur and Hames Ware, two of the finest experts on comic artists, including some of the most obscure, weren't able to determine his identity. So I think unless someone comes forward to say they knew him, are related to him, or are him (or, maybe even her), then I think it's sort of futile to keep stabbing around in the dark, speculating.
Pappy, I agree with your observation. It's too bad that over the years such talent has gone into obscurity. I know this is somewhat off-topic, but also somewhat related: there is a longstanding (and frustrating) mystery as to the identity of the artist who did all that amazing lettering for the title cards of the Max Fleischer / Famous Studios (Paramount) cartoons. It was just recently discovered that his name was Arthur Greenbaum. Absolutely nothing else is known about him. I'm on an ongoing search.
ReplyDeleteOMG It was drawn by a woman!
ReplyDelete@DougieD, I happened to be doing some research and came across your posts. I know it's pretty old at this poinr, but in case you're still wondering...Arthur Greenbaum,the man responsible for the Fleisher Studios lettering, was my grandfather! Maybe we can get in touch to chat about your findings.
ReplyDelete-Matthew Greenbaum
Matthew, Now that several years have passed I've just come across your response to my post about your grandfather. I would love to get in touch --- email, maybe? (ashboy1951@gmail.com)
ReplyDelete