LSU Museum of Art unveiled “Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books,” an ode to the artistic history of the Little Golden Books, featuring 60 original illustrations from the book series.
Little Golden Books was critical to making children’s literature accessible to the average American family, not only the upper class, in the 1940s. At the time, the average cost per book was three to four dollars, which fluctuates between 30 to 40 dollars today.
“Author Georges Duplaix came up with an idea to make a line of books that were colorful, focusing on children, and including high quality art,” LSU MOA Chief Curator of Exhibitions Michelle Schulte explained.
The first set of Little Golden Books hit shelves across the country in 1942, priced at 25 cents each. Though it was an ambitious task to take on during the country’s first year being involved in World War II, it was an immediate success, with over one million copies being printed in the first year. This revealed a dire need for affordable books for children, so Little Golden Books continued to expand and grow as the decades passed.
I Am A Bunny by Ole Risom, illustrated by Richard Scarry. Gouache and Watercolor. © 1963 Random House (LSU Museum of Art)
Multiple generations have familiarity with the book series and can resonate with this nostalgic exhibit today. Artwork from classics such as “I Am a Bunny,” “The Little Red Hen” and “I Can Fly” line the exhibit walls and untuck memories that were locked away in the minds of everyone. From the elderly who read these books to their now adult children to small children whose parents recently acquired some of these books, the iconic gold spine is highly memorable.
“This exhibit is not just for children,” Schulte said. “To me, this represents an exhibition of memories and nostalgia that anyone who is familiar with Little Golden Books can take part in and enjoy. It’s for all ages.”
Recognizable names in the art world such as Richard Scarry, Garth Williams and Mary Blair are also engrained throughout the exhibit, with the likes of Walt Disney Studios Alumni, American artists and the European emigre community all contributing portraits to the Little Golden Books series. It was a team effort with a payoff that can still be seen and felt today.
“Golden Legacy: Original Art from 80 Years of Golden Books” will be on view until Sunday, May 25. LSU students can visit the LSU Museum of Art at 100 Lafayette Street, Baton Rouge free of charge by presenting their LSU ID upon arrival.
“We want our LSU family to come off campus to come see us and know that this is their museum too,” Schulte said.
To keep up with the LSU Museum of Art, you can follow their Instagram: @lsumoa.
By Aris Williams, Entertainment Reporter