King Log & King's Stork

Category

Library Item

Item no

30853

Title

King Log & King's Stork

Description

A stork in a crown and necklace surrounded by frogs with one in his beak. There is a God in the sun surrounded by stars. A hand is holding a placard with the fable titled 'King Log and King Stork.'

Artist / maker

Crane, Walter

Date

1900

Size

17.7 x 18.7 cm

Type

Publisher's print

Location

Art and Design Library

In the illustration for 'King Log & the King's Stork,' the Greek style that is in much of the book is not as obvious; however, it is still present as Jove is looking down from the sun. A hand is being shown holding the scroll on which the fable is written, which is a motif seen in medieval and Renaissance manuscripts. The use of this medieval technique comes from the influence of Arts and Crafts Movement on Crane. Though Crane did not write the text of the fables (it was written by his mentor, W. J. Linton), it is probable that they reflected Crane's well-documented political beliefs. The moral, 'Don't have kings' can be seen to be related to socialist beliefs. Here we have the motifs that Crane used going back the medieval craft and the text supporting the socialist cause in his books for children. This tells us, not only about Crane's personal beliefs, but also about the ideas of the time, as he felt it appropriate to put into books for children.

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Related subjects

Animals > Amphibians > Frogs

Animals > Birds > Birds

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Crowns

Landscape > Water > Loch, lakes and ponds

Plants > Grasses > Grasses

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