Hansel and Gretel - An Art Deco Postcard Illustrated by Joyce Mercer (1927)

            This stylised Art Deco postcard of Hansel and Gretel approaching the gingerbread cottage of the witch was created by accomplished British illustrator Joyce Mercer.  Published by C. W. Faulkner & Co. in 1927, it is one of six from series 1959 entitled Fairy Tales.  This postcard uses the most unusual spelling Grettel (I have never seen another example), rather than the common Gretel, or somewhat less common Grethel. 

Rather more splendidly dressed than the impoverished children of a woodcutter, Hansel and Gretel move from the foreground of the dark forest with its twisting trees, wildflowers and friendly animals, into a wide clearing.  In the glade stands the rounded gingerbread cottage of the rather benign looking witch, who waits patiently at her door, an almost imperceptible smile upon her face.  Leaning on her walking stick, the witch is dressed in a magnificent yellow and black gown, red shawl and a black hat that makes her look almost Welsh, were it not for its slightly curled brim.

This card was mailed to a Miss M. Clough in Suffolk in 1937, and the one penny stamp features the uncrowned Edward VIII.  The message reads as follows:

"Thank you so much for your lovely postcard.  I did like the apple blossoms.  How is Bridgid and Kathie.  I hope they are both very well and visiting in July.  

Much love from Granny"  

Joyce Mercer (1896 - 1965) was a children's illustrator of great talent who applied her art to postcards, books and periodicals in Britain during the interwar years.  Born to a Sheffield solicitor and his wife, Joyce was the youngest of four children.  Although left handed, Joyce taught herself to be ambidextrous by drawing symmetrical designs with both hands at the same time.  She began her formal artistic education of the Sheffield School of Art, however her natural talent meant that she outgrew the school all too quickly and continued at the Manchester School of Art.  At the age of twenty-three she moved to London and enrolled in the Chelsea School of Art.  Joyce's real passions were for costume and design, both of which took radical and colourful twists and turns under the Art Deco movement, which was predominant when she was a student.  Her stylised images represent the colour, shape and true spirit of the Art Deco movement.

Taken on: May 22, 2014

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Camera: Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, f/2.8, 1/20 sec, 6.2mm, ISO 800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS
Aperture:	f/2.8
Exposure Time:	0.05 sec (1/20)
Focal Length:	6.2mm
ISO:	800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
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