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Ye Berlyn Tapestrie John Hassall

Ye Berlyn Tapestrie By John Hassall

Ye Berlyn Tapestrie by John Hassall


$17.99
Condition - Very Good
Only 3 left

Summary

Taking the scheme of the famous Bayeux Tapestry and drawn with Hassall's distinctive flat colour and striking outlines, 'Ye Berlyn Tapestrie' is a fascinating historical example of war-induced farce, produced by a highly talented artist who could not then have known that the war was set to last for another two years.

Ye Berlyn Tapestrie Summary

Ye Berlyn Tapestrie: John Hassall's satirical First World War panorama by John Hassall

The horror of the First World War brought out a characteristic response in a group of English artists, who resorted to black humour. Among these, John Hassall, a pioneering British illustrator and creator of the influential 'Skegness is so bracing' poster, holds a special place. Early in the war, he hit on the idea of drawing a parody of the Bayeux Tapestry to satirize German aggression and add to the growing genre of war propaganda. Taking the scheme of the famous tapestry which celebrates William the Conqueror's invasion of England, Hassall uses thirty pictorial panels to tell the story of Kaiser Wilhem II's invasion of Luxembourg and Belgium. In mock-archaic language he narrates the progress of the German army, never missing an opportunity to lampoon 'bad' behaviour: 'Wilhelm giveth orders for frightfulness.' The caricatured Germans loot homes, make gas from Limburg cheese and sauerkraut, drink copious amounts of wine and shamefully march through Luxembourg with 'women and children in front.' With comic inventiveness Hassall adapts the borders of the original to illustrate the stereotypical objects with which the English then associated their enemy: they are decorated with schnitzel, sausages, pilsner, wine corks and wild boar. Drawn with Hassall's distinctive flat colour and striking outlines, Ye Berlyn Tapestrie is a fascinating historical example of war-induced farce, produced by a highly talented artist who could not then have known that the war was set to last for another two years. Together with an introduction which sets out the historical background of its creation, every page of this rarely seen publication is reproduced here in a fold-out concertina, just like the original, to resemble the style of the Bayeux Tapestry.

About John Hassall

John Hassall (1868-1948) was a British illustrator and graphic artist. Mike Webb is Head of Cataloguing of the Western Manuscripts section, Bodleian Libraries.

Additional information

GOR006812501
9781851244164
1851244166
Ye Berlyn Tapestrie: John Hassall's satirical First World War panorama by John Hassall
Used - Very Good
Hardback
Bodleian Library
20140905
64
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Ye Berlyn Tapestrie