Enid Marx V

As I weave and jigsaw my way through vintage and modern illustration, I return to Enid Marx after nearly 8 years with her lithograph posters for Regent Aquarium and London Zoo commissioned by London Transport in 1957. Lettering and poetry were by BG Lewis. "Old Noah’s love of beasts we know, was not confined to fur-face, his plan included tanks to show the life below the surface. . . " 

Enid Marx IV

'Slithery Sam' by Enid Marx, published 1947, double-page col. litho. spreads alternating with b & w lithography illustrations. As I love snails, I think this is one of my favourite Enid Marx books the yellow, turquoise and pink illustrations are delightful and everything is very much of its time and place, mid century Britain. You can see works by Enid Marx at House of Illustration, London until September 23rd.

Enid Marx III

'The Little White Bear' published in 1945 by Enid Marx reminds me of Tolkien's 'Father Christmas Letters', with its wonderful pictures of a friendly polar bear. Ivan the polar bear accidentally jumps on a boat of stranded soldiers, and becomes their lucky charm helping to get them to safety.

Enid Marx II

It was wonderful to see examples of Enid Marx's children's books at House of Illustration. A charming limited blue palette book was 'Nelson Kite of The Kings Army'. This book was published in 1942.

An earlier book with similar style, colour and subject by Enid is 'Bulgy the Barrage Balloon' published in 1941.

Enid Marx I

Yesterday was my last day in London and as ever when leaving or arriving in London Kings Cross, it is a great opportunity to visit 'The House of Illustration', this tiny gem of a gallery never disappoints.

Currently they have an exhibition of Enid Marx (1902-1998) a textile designer, printmaker and illustrator. Famous for her mid century design, her work on London underground upholstery fabrics and the stamps for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation stamps.

However for my first post on Enid's life and work I am going to focus on her love of cats and her woodcuts, as I found the woodcut below particularly striking, you can see in the foliage and other elements of this print, Enid's skills at creating pattern as well as her subtle use of contrasting colours.

Above: 'Tiger Tiger' Linocut, printed in colour, published by Curwen Press, 1958

Enid loved cats and the 'Two Cats' print below is based on her own cats 'Sam and Arry', these cats were also to be immortalised in one of her children's books.

Woodcut was the perfect medium for Enid and for textile design with the colour separation it requires. It was this technique which really defined the aesthetic of mid century design in Britain.