These illustrations are by Isaachar Ryback for In the Forest, a 1922 children’s book by Kvitko.
Ryback was a painter born in the Ukraine in 1897. He settled in Berlin in October 1921 and became a member of the Novembergruppe of Expressionist artists and architects. It was in Berlin that he illustrated this book of Yiddish poetry for children.
There is a comprehensive website on Ryback, and I look forward to digging through it. He created a large variety of works before his death in 1935.
I found Forest at the Center for Jewish History. To read the entire book, click here. Their description: “A little boy, Itsi, dreamt that he went to the forest, where he met many different animals: a fox, a tiger, a lion, a wolf, a bear, a monkey etc.”
Itsi appears only on the cover, and it looks like he’s in the grip of a nightmare, flailing his arms while an angry blue elephant prepares to toss him into the air. None of the other animals look particularly friendly either. (I hope I don’t get attacked by hungry woodcuts in my own dreams tonight.)
Click for larger views.
(cover)
(back cover)
