Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1909), by the Brothers Grimm and illustrated by Arthur Rackham, stands as one of the most magnificent achievements in the golden age of book illustration. Published in London by Constable & Co. and in New York by Doubleday, Page & Co., 1909. This edition showcases Rackham’s mature artistic style through a harmonious marriage of haunting imagery and classic folktales. Rackham’s illustrations breathe new life into stories like “Snow White,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” and “The Frog Prince” with his distinctive blend of whimsy and melancholy. His gnarled, anthropomorphic trees twist through the pages like silent storytellers, while his ethereal fairy folk and menacing villains seem to step directly from the Germanic folk tradition. The volume features forty tales accompanied by twelve tipped-in color plates protected by tissue guards, along with numerous intricate pen-and-ink drawings that dance through the margins. Rackham’s mastery of watercolor and line creates a world where enchantment and danger coexist, perfectly capturing the dual nature of Grimm’s original tales. The book’s production values—rich green cloth binding with elaborate gilt stamping, thick ivory pages, and superior color reproduction—make this a pinnacle of early twentieth-century publishing.

About Arthur Rackham (1867-1939):
The preeminent British illustrator of the Edwardian era, Rackham revolutionized book illustration through his distinctive style that blended Art Nouveau elegance with earthy folkloric sensibility. After studying at Lambeth School of Art while working as a clerk, he rose to prominence with his 1900 Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. His 1905 Rip Van Winkle established his reputation, but this 1909 Grimm edition represents his artistic maturity. Rackham’s unique technique involved preliminary pencil sketches, meticulous ink work, and subtle watercolor washes that created his signature dreamlike quality. Beyond Grimm, his landmark illustrations for Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906) and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1907) cemented his legacy as the foremost fairy tale illustrator of his generation. The delicate balance of beauty and grotesquerie in his work continues to influence fantasy art today.

Other Arthur Rackham’s illustrated books available in our gallery: Rip Van Winkle, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, Book of Pictures, The Night Before Christmas, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Midsummer’s Night Dream, Undine, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan in Kensington Garden, The Ingoldsby Legends.

Art Gallery: Arthur Rackham – Grimm’s Fairy Tales 1909