Ilonka Karasz

Ilonka Karasz (1896-1981) was an American illustrator and graphic designer. The style of her work and other designers of this era is so popular now that these screen printed designs look completely contemporary.

Ilonka Karasz II

A selection of Ilonka Karasz's Christmassy New Yorker covers from the amazing 186 covers that she designed for the magazine.

Ilonka Karasz I

The twelve days of Christmas illustrated by Ilonka Karasz (1896-1981). The content rich illustrations in this beautiful book certainly give the impression of the frantic activity of the last few days before Christmas. 
Ilonka Karasz illustrated children's books and magazines and most impressively, over a span of almost fifty years, she illustrated 186 covers for The  New Yorker. However prolific she was as an illustrator she was initially acclaimed as a textile designer and side by side her illustration work she continued to design for applied arts producing ceramics, rugs and textiles. 

Ilonka Karasz

As here in Scotland we are in the midst of the darkest part of the year, I thought I would honour the night over the next few days. 
My first post is a starry scene by Hungarian / American illustrator Ilonka Karasz whose intricate, complex illustrations were on the cover of many New Yorker magazines. 
This illustration is from Heavenly Tenants written by William Maxwell and first published in 1946. Ilonka Karasz also designed products such as ceramics rugs and wallpapers as well as posters and book covers.