January 9, 2024

Golden age of illustration

The Maastricht University (UM) owns more than fifty fairy tale books from the end of the nineteenth to the beginnings of the twentieth century. They are often beautifully illustrated. And they are also invaluable as a source for research and education at our university. Fairy tales are usually seen as stories for children, but that is not the case originally. They often have a dark side, which is also interesting for scientific education and research. What do they tell us about time spirit and social constellation? What can we learn about plot, character and structure from myth and fable? What is the psychological dimension of fairy tales? Analysing can enrich various aspects of our knowledge level. The fairy tale books are precious pieces in the UM’s Special Collections. All major authors are represented: Shakespeare, Hans Christian Andersen, Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens. The majority of these books is printed in English. Forty-eight are richly illustrated in Art Nouveau style. Consult this extensive range of tales from the Golden Age of illustrations. Investigate the dark worlds of the occult to twisted fairy tales. Discover some of the finest works of art ever created for children’s literature.