Artist: Kay Nielsen

This Art Friday I'm presenting a work by a man named Kay (pronounced "kigh." According to Wikipedia,

Kay Nielsen (1886-1957) was a Danish illustrator who was popular in the early 20th century, the "golden age of illustration."

In the 1930s went to work for The Walt Disney Company, where his work was used in the "Ave Maria" and "Night on Bald Mountain" sequences of Fantasia. He did some work on "The Little Mermaid", but it was almost 50 years before this reached the cinema. His final years were spent in poverty.

Right is an illustration called "Then He Carried Her Home," from the story "The Lassie and her Godmother." I think the image is terribly romantic. I adore the whimsical trees that are almost like vines. To me, they seem to be like graceful sentinels witnessing this happily ever after in progress. The horse is just beautiful, with it's plaited mane and majestic hooves. The art deco feeling, too, is lovely, and what fair maiden wouldn't want to be cradled like this? If you would like to view more of Nielsen's work, click here.