Imre Jakabffy (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 1. (Budapest, 1973)

KOÓS, Judith: Walter Crane and Hungary

8. W. CRANE: EX LIBRIS 9 W. CRANE: EX LIBRIS Catalogue No. 518, the inner side (lining paper) of the jacket for the tale "Fairy Ship". Water-colour (Fig. 7). Before the sailing boat, sea-gulls and stylized waves of the navy blue background a hatted woman, holding her child in her arms, is shown from the rear. She stands in the centre on the grassy coast and on her right and left two and three children respectively, typified with different gestures, are looking at the boat sailing the sea. On the most rising in the foreground a small boy waves his hand. The inscription "The fairy Ship" figures at the top in the middle. It is the interest of the technique that some parts of the figures, though somewhat washed over with white body colour, appear as negative, unpainted spots against the blue background. The asymmetric composition of the picture, with the tall female figure in the central axis reveals balanced construction. On the left at the bottom Walter Crane's mark is visible. On the back of the sheet the artist's autograph: 'Walter Crane London Lining Paper "The Fairy Ship'" figures, then in another script: "96 korona".

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' There are in the possession of the Museum of Applied Arts yet three graphic sheets bear-