Man as Woman

This print is of the Japanese actor Segawa Tumisaburo, in female character, by the artist Toshusai Sharaku. Sharaku’s prints have qualities that distinguish them from others of the same genre as they are more intense with differing harmonies of color and portray heightened facial expressions. They were all produced in one year, 1794, and there is no evidence that the artist, a dancer by profession, had even designed a color-print before.

1954, Chiswick Press of London

The Fussy Eater

Mothers know all too well the charms of a fussy eater. This delightful illustration by Mabel Lucie Attwell has an accompanying verse which is a beautiful and most suitable response to Baby Robert Rabbit`s highchair antics.

A Melancholic Victorian Scene

This print is from the story Bessy Wells written in 1875 by Mrs. Henry Woods. Mrs. Woods was once considered to be a minor writer of the mid nineteenth century, but is now being rediscovered by academia. Poor Bessy Wells' father lies dying in his room surrounded by a reserved Doctor, a woman fearfully peeking over her prayer book, and an impoverished friend sitting on the bed wearing tattered and soiled clothes. Bessy Wells' father, once a good man, is dying from too much drink. Death was a rite of Victorian literature. Melancholic scenes such as this were so frequent because they portrayed the grueling reality of disease, poverty and general hardship that characterized so much of Victorian society. The public was susceptible to a wide variety of diseases caused by malnutrition, poor working conditions, poor sanitation and lack of public health and medical care. In 1840 the average lifespan was 45 years for the upper class, and 27 years for tradespeople. Labourers and servants lived only 22 years, on average. Women, as a rule, had a shorter life expectancy as they were responsible for the care of the ill, suffered from poor nutrition (society frowned on hearty appetites for women) and because of the difficulties caused by childbirth.

Easier To Look After Than A Fish Tank

Gleaned from an unsalvageable copy of the 1937 Book of Knowledge, this double-sided color lithograph is in pristine condition with bright colors and nary a dent, tear or mark. The page measures 6 1/4 x 9 inches and illustrates 45 different fish including the paganellus, conger, bubalis and shagreen ray (fish I have never heard of, but you may have some knowledge of). I prefer fish pictures rather than arduous task of maintaining a fish tank. You might too. See the original listing for these brilliant fish pictures here.

When You Don't Want To Be Pushed Around

There's something to be said for the visual image of feeding an enemy to a crocodile. For our infamous friend Peter, he'd had enough. Proud and insolent youth," said Hook, "prepare to meet they doom." He did not know that the crocodile was waiting for him, for the clock inside the crocodile had stopped. As the black pirate stood on the bulwark looking over his shoulder, Peter glided through the air and pushed him off with his foot. Thus perished James Hook.

It's All About Alice

It's all about Alice in this lovely treasury from lillianamarie who has included, from my shop, a vintage children's book illustration by Marjorie Torrey of Alice and the Cheshire Cat. Check out lillianamarie's very chic hair accessories on etsy.