Earlier today, I was wondering what the subject of this week’s musing would be. Nothing was coming to mind as I headed out to look at some books. I found a new title by an artist that I really like. This brings the number of books I have or have had by him to four – enough for a musing I declared to myself!
Rien Poortvliet (1932-1995) was a Dutch artist and illustrator. Born in Schiedam, Poortvliet was best known for his drawings of animals and for "Gnomes", a famous series of illustrated books with text by Wil Huygen.
Poortvliet did not attend art school and his family discouraged him from becoming an artist: `My family thought that artists were, you know, a little bit dangerous, all those naked women, all that drinking all night." Instead, Poortvliet's father wanted him to pursue a profession that would produce a stable income, so Poortvliet began a career in advertising, initially drawing scenes of families for soap companies. Poortvliet took more pleasure in the work he did on the side for several publishers.
For years his works were published by Van Holkema en Warendorf in Bussum, where his "Leven en werken van de Kabouter" (co-authored by Wil Huygen, English title is "Gnomes") went through 59 printings. His books have been translated into English, French, German, Swedish, Finnish, Spanish, Italian and other languages. With the Gnomes series, Poortvliet acquired international fame. This series took on a life of its own, and was turned into an animated series, The World of David the Gnome in 1985.
The Living Forest: A World of Animals by Rien Poortvliet; introduction by Robert Elman; Harry N. Abrams, New York, 1979. First published in Dutch in 1973.
From the blurb – Living as he does in a rustic cottage, Poortvliet has long been a close observer of the comings and goings of wild creatures. He has his favorites, and he presents them here in full color and entrancing detail.
This is my favourite of his books, and I have sold two at Christmas at the Forum, in Halifax. I’ll always remember the first one sold, because an older man picked up the book, looked at it for quite a while and put it back down and wandered off. Five minutes later it was bought by another admirer. Five minutes later the older man came back to buy it and I had to say, “Sorry, it has been sold”.
I have another copy to take to the Forum in several weeks time.
Gnomes; Wil Huygen (text), Rien Poortvliet (illustrations); Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers, New York, 1977. First published in Dutch in 1976.
From the blurb – Do you know that a Gnome is seven times stronger than a human? Or that his sense of smell is nineteen times more acute? Or that Gnomes rub noses in both greeting and farewell? Or that Gnome couples always have twin children? These and other fascinating real-life details – pictured in full color by the noted Dutch artist Rien Poortvliet – illuminate this first documentary portrayal of Gnomes, as distinct from Elves, Goblins, Trolls, Kobolds, and Fairies. Here are important events from Gnome history. This is a book full of lore, history, and fun. For, of course, all these factual data are invented. And what a great tongue-in-cheek book this is. 212 pages, all in color, hundreds of illustrations, maps, and diagrams.
Rien Poortvliet; Dutch Treat - The Artist’s Life, Written and Painted by Himself; translated from the Dutch by Maria Milne; Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers, New York, 1981. First published in Dutch in 1980.
A book to be cherished by those who love the Dutch countryside as well as those devoted to his gnomes!
Secrets of the Gnomes; Wil Huygen (text), Rien Poortvliet (illustrations); Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers, New York, 1982. First published in Dutch in 1981.
This was today’s discovery!
From the blurb - Rien Poortvliet and Wil Huygen find that they have been turned into gnomes themselves! They learn of the tender emotional life of a gnome, the mechanics of the ingenious gnome technology, how gnomes administer justice in the wild, how fairy tales first began and, best of all, they are allowed to see parts of the magical Secret Book. They are led from Lapland across the Siberian wilderness by Nicholas, their gruff but friendly guide. Lovers of gnomes will celebrate the arrival of this new volume and will delight in the opportunity to know these elusive creatures better. Scores of enchanting illustrations by Dutch artist Rien Poortvliet record the comings and goings of gnomes and the loving interaction with nature for which they are so famous. 200 pages in full color.
