ALMOST ANYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL!

 

Wanda Gag, a Minnesota artist who was passionate about drawing and writing children’s stories once said, “Draw the things about you . . . the very ordinary things, such as chairs, stoves, wood piles, frying pans, smokestacks.  Almost anything is beautiful and drawable, if you can look at it that way.”

Those were inspirational words for me, as I sought to write about everyday things, however simple they seemed.  Nothing was too insignificant and I became a more interested observer. In many ways Wanda was my mentor.

I first became interested in Wanda Gag when I discovered one of her delightful children’s stories—MILLIONS OF CATS, which is still the oldest American picture book in print.  I read it over and over to my children and was fascinated by the simple illustrations. 

Wanda grew up in New Ulm, Minnesota.  She was part of a very artistic family, involved in storytelling, drawing, and writing stories and poems.  She spoke German as a child, and in later years, became a translator as well as an artist.  She adored her father, who was a well-known regional artist, as well as a painter and photographer.  Unfortunately, he died when Wanda was only 15.  Before his death he told his beloved daughter, “What Papa couldn’t do, Wanda will have to finish.”  And she did, with a flourish.  But along the way she did everything she could to support the other five children in her family.  Wanda was the oldest daughter and needed to do all the housework and cooking.  At one point she sold cards she had made to support her younger siblings.  Her dream had always been to be an artist.  She and a friend wrote stories together and Wanda included stories of her own.  For four years, from 1913 to 1917 she attended the St. Paul School of Art and the Minneapolis School of Art. 

Wanda also entered magazine contests and sent in some of her drawings and stories to earn money.  She was devoted to her family and determined to help them survive financially.

In 1917 Wanda went to New York to attend an art school on scholarship.  She became a commercial artist in 1919.  Many of her prints are in the National Gallery of Arts.  One famous artist who was inspired by her work was Maurice Sendak.  In all, Wanda wrote ten children’s books.  She became well-known internationally for her lithographs.

Wanda loved the country and often worked in New England during the summer.  She was a rare children’s author and illustrator for the time. She was thrilled to eventually see her work sell at well-known New York galleries.

Wanda Gag died of lung cancer in 1946 at the age of 53.  She was putting together another book of fairy tales at the time.  Her younger sister Flavia completed the book, which was called MORE TALES FROM GRIMM.

Today there's a wonderful Wanda Gag museum in her hometown of New Ulm, Minnesota, where stories of her life and work are proudly told. It’s an enchanting place to visit.

Wanda Gag was an extraordinary woman—uniquely gifted in drawing and storytelling and a kind, compassionate human being. She was often confronted with adversity, but always dealt with it admirably.  Papa would have been extraordinarily proud of her. What Papa couldn't do, Wanda did indeed finish.