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Natural History Art, Mammals, Various Animals, Illustration Art, Vintage Watercolor

$850

R. Heimburg
North American Animals
Dutch: 1930s
Gouache and watercolor on board
Signed lower right: R. Heimburg
16 x 22 inches, image
18 x 23.5 inches, overall
$850

Painted illustration for publication showing an assortment of North American woodland and prairie animals. Animals depicted include mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds in a naturalistic setting. It was presumably produced for a natural history book or educational poster and is realistic in its details, although the animals are placed in close proximity in a single landscape.

Product Description Continues Below

Description

This painting was acquired from the same vendor as three paintings of animals of Africa, Asia, and South America, having the same dimensions, which we also now offer for sale. The four paintings probably were created for the same book or series of posters, and together, make an attractive set of animals from four continents. See African, Asian and South American Animals.

Names written on verso in Dutch (our translations in brackets): 1. Waschbeer [Raccoon], 2. Canadeesch Stekelvarken [Canadian Porcupine], 3. Bison [Bison], 4. Sneeundgeit [Goat], 5. Gaffel antiloop [Yoked Antelope], 6. Dikhoorn Schaap [Bighorn Sheep], 7. Prairie hond [Prairie Fox], 8. Grizlibeer [Grizzly Bear], 9. Gier [Vulture], 10. Spotvogel [Icterine Warbler], 11. Blauwmerel [Blue Jay], 12. Kolibri [Hummingbird], 13. Kalkoen [Turkey], 14. Prairie hoen [Prairie Chicken], 15. Ratelslang [Rattelsnake], 16. Mokassinslang [Water Mocassin], 17. Aalsalamander [Eel Salamander], 18. Axolotl [Axolotl].

As in Britain, France and Germany, the Netherlands embraced the progressive social and pedagogic ideals of the 18th century Enlightenment and began producing a great quantity of educational literature for both children and adults. The invention of low-cost color printing in the 19th century had an immediate impact on European and American children’s books, allowing them to enhance book illustration. This early-20th-century natural history illustration represents a continuation of that tradition.

Condition: Very good, the colors bright, with the usual overall light toning and wear. Some minor abrasions. Some scattered foxing in image slightly visible in sky and water but not obtrusive. Some minor scattered staining, foxing, bumps, pinholes in margins, can be matted out.

Reference:

Buijnsters, P.J. “News & articles: From Gumuchian to Forum (The Children’s World of Learning 1480-1880: Part 7).” Antiquariat Forum. May 2001. http://www.forumhes.nl/forum/essay_newsart.phtml (25 April 2003).

Additional information

Century

20th Century