Kay Nielsen

Fame is a vapor; popularity an accident; the only earthly certainty is oblivion.
~Mark Twain

Danish-American illustrator Kay Nielsen is our focus today. Nielsen, who was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1886, had a pretty tumultuous career. It started out well -- his work was popular. So popular that he had exhibits in other countries and was asked to come to Hollywood, where he worked on various projects, including Disney's Fantasia. When World War II erupted, staying in the U.S. seemed like a good idea...but making a living turned out to be hard. Eventually, a fan helped him land a job making a mural in a junior high school library. He worked three years on it, and it was described as "one of the most beautiful wall paintings in America" by The L.A. Times. The mural was taken down a year later. There's more to his story -- read it here.

She Was Forced to Produce the Key
by Kay Nielsen

Hansel and Gretel
by Kay Nielsen

In the Night, the Dog Came Again
by Kay Nielsen

The Tale of the Fisherman and the Genie
by Kay Nielsen

The Lovers Perish in the Fire
by Kay Nielsen

Tin Soldier and Dancer
by Kay Nielsen

The Man Who Never Laughed
by Kay Nielsen

Links:

* The Unknown Paintings of Kay Nielsen (used copies of an out-of-print book)
* Nielsen's Fairy Tale Illustrations in color (book)
* Another bio of Nielsen