The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss 4114472 208486928 2008-04-27T08:34:40Z Garion96 397881 rm per [[wp:mosflag]] {{Infobox Book | | name = The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss | title_orig = | translator = | image =[[Image:The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss book cover.jpg|200px]] | image_caption = | author = [[Dr. Seuss]] | cover_artist =[[Dr. Seuss]] | country = [[United States]] | language = [[English language|English]] | series = | genre = [[Visual arts|Visual art]] | publisher = [[Random House]] | pub_date = 1995 | media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] and [[paperback]]) | pages = | isbn = ISBN 0679434488 | oclc = | preceded_by = [[Daisy-Head Mayzie]] | followed_by = [[My Many Colored Days]] }} '''''The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss''''' (ISBN 0-679-43448-8) is a collection of [[visual art]] created by Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as [[Dr. Seuss]]. It was published in [[1995]] by [[Random House]] of [[New York]]. ==Contents of the book== ===Visual art=== The bulk of this collection consists of [[painting]] and [[drawing]]. It does, however, include photographs of many [[sculpture]]s created by Geisel. Both forms of art display the characteristic [[artistic|style]] and form that can be seen in all of his [[children's books]]. ====Sculpture==== All of Dr. Seuss's sculptures display the same themes, which are [[taxidermy]] and [[trophy hunting]]. Each sculpture takes the form of an imaginary and fantastic creature displayed on a wood mount in the style of a hunting [[trophy]]. Most of his pieces in this category make use of authentic animal parts. ===Introduction/foreword=== In addition to visual art, ''Secret Art'' provides more personal insight into the life of Theodor Geisel. The book opens with a very short introductory letter by [[Audrey Geisel]] titled "A Personal Note About Theodor Seuss Geisel", as well as an introduction by [[Maurice Sendak]], both of which relate anecdotal tales of Geisel's work ethic and artistic vision. ==Media== Dr. Seuss used a wide variety of [[recording medium|media]] in his art. In keeping with the [[postmodernism|post-modernist]] tradition, Seuss is very experimental with his media; he even uses a hinged window frame and screen as a frame for one of his oil paintings. ===Paintings and drawings=== Theodor Seuss Geisel's favored medium is [[watercolor]], usually either on [[bristol board|bristol]] or [[illustration]] board. He also makes ample use of [[ink]] or [[pen]], [[oil paint|oil]], and [[acrylic paint|acrylic]]. This selection of media helps to expand his distinctive style. ===Sculpture=== The most distinct aspect of Geisel's sculpture is his choice of medium. As mentioned above, all of his sculptures take the form of hunting-lodge trophies in the forms of surreal or fantasy animals. As if to enhance this effect, Dr. Seuss uses real parts of dead animals and animal [[by-product]]s. Each sculpture is hung on a plain wood mount. ===Complete list of media=== ====Two-dimensional art==== *[[pencil]] *ink *watercolor *[[colored pencil]] *[[whiteout]] *oil [[pastel]] *pen *oil *acrylic *[[casein paint|casein]] *[[gouache]] *[[enamel paint|enamel]] *[[crayon]] '''On''' *bristol/illustration/drawing board *paper *watercolor board *[[canvas]] and canvas board ====Sculpture==== *[[plaster]] *metal *screws *laminate *shaving brush *horns *oil *fur *beak *leather *[[Cattle|bull]]'s horn *[[sawfish]] bill ==Classification and analysis== Many have tried to classify Dr. Seuss's artwork, but there is no true consensus among [[art criticism|critics]] on which [[art movement|school of art]] or movement he belongs to. Although he was no longer working at the time the terms were coined, he can probably be best defined as a combination of early forms of [[maximalism]] and [[cute formalism]]. This is evident not only in the visual [[aesthetic]] of his work, but also in his work ethic. In the maximalist tradition, his work is very bright, sensual, visually rich, and extremely detailed. He was also very conscientious, and his pieces are all very [[formalism (art)|formalistic]] and work-extensive. All of his pieces also display a childish and playful nature, with a touch of femininity and a sense of ironic politeness, which leads to the assertion that he was a preemptive cute formalist. This observation is particularly interesting because of the evident [[Oriental]] influence on Geisel's art, and both of these movements are centered in Eastern [[Asia|Asian]] culture ([[China|Chinese]] and [[Japan|Japanese]], respectively). Some have labelled Seuss's art as [[expressionism|expressionist]], but critics of this argument claim that his working style and ethics were not in-line with those of expressionism. Expressionism is usually defined as the exaggeration or over-emphasis of shapes, forms, and colors to heighten emotional reaction. While Dr. Seuss's art is clearly very exaggerated and emotional, many critics do not believe it was created with the deliberate attempt at emotional "shock value" they see as being characteristic of expressionism. It must be noted that neither of these arguments has much critical support, but then, neither do many other arguments concerning the classification of Theodor Seuss Geisel; in fact, he died before some of these terms were even coined. His works were quickly acquired by American [[pop art]] galleries, and some (but very few) critics consider it [[kitsch]]. Perhaps the safest classification is just as [[transgressive art]], or even just the broader umbrella term of [[postmodernism]]. ==See also== *[[Dr. Seuss]] *[http://www.arton5th.com/seuss/seuss.html Dr. Seuss at Art on 5th] *[[Transgressive art]] *[[Postmodernism]] ==References== Geisel, Audrey. ''The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss.'' Random House: New York, 1995. [[Category:1995 books|Secret art of Dr. Seuss, The]] [[Category:Books about visual art|Secret art of Dr. Seuss, The]] [[Category:Dr. Seuss|Secret art of Dr. Seuss, The]]