Michael:

I stumbled across a fascinating book today entitled “The Secret Art of Dr. Suess.” I didn’t realize that Theodor Geisel had done a good deal of art outside of his labors as a cartoonist and the illustrator of his own children’s books.

Looking through the book also made me realize (I guess I’m just slow to the party) how thoroughly libidinous his art was, and at the same time how elegant. The book contains a picture of Geisel painting in his studio when he appears north of sixty, yet he’s got quite a sense of style (to say nothing of a terrific head of hair.) I know nothing about his private life, but one would have to guess that, at least if he had wanted to, he could have cut quite a swath as a ladies’ man.

I also had no idea that he was a sculptor as well as a painter and a draftsman, which is where today’s picture comes in. The following is made from plaster, real animal horns, oil paint and a wooden base. It is not only, of course, a witty comment on the whole notion of hunting trophy heads, but also confirms that he certainly didn’t condescend stylistically to children; this predates his first published children’s book by three years.

T. Geisel, Semi-Normal Green Lidded Fawn, 1934

Enjoy,

Friedrich

P.S. You've got to click on the thumbnail above to see a big enough picture to appreciate the fawn's eyelids.

Jane and I saw one of his sculptures, much like the one shown, on a recent trip to Carmel. Liked it. Wanted to bring it home. Didn't want to bring it home X-thousand dollars-worth. Sigh.

Posted by: Will Duquette on August 30, 2003 8:50 PM

"a witty comment on the whole notion of hunting trophy heads"

Interesting. Didn't get that. You're right though, otherwise, why make it a fawn. Unless he liked the sound of the word. (It's not like Ted was careless about vowel sounds.)

Still, the fact that you can't know this fawn is semi-normal without capturing it in some way (photograph or head)...

Posted by: j.c. on September 3, 2003 3:54 PM






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