Kay Nielsen. East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Experience a journey into a realm filled with forbidden romances, enchanting winds, playful giants, and mythical trolls, all captured through some of the most stunning illustrations in the history of publishing. This beautiful abridged version by TASCHEN brings back to life the most ambitious project of the much-loved Danish artist Kay Nielsen, renowned as one of the greatest children’s book illustrators. Originally released in 1914, "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" is a treasured collection of fairy tales compiled by the legendary Norwegian folklorists Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Engebretsen Moe during their travels throughout Norway in the mid-1800s. Nielsen’s illustrated rendition of these tales is hailed as a masterpiece of early 20th-century children's literature and is highly coveted by both art and book enthusiasts around the world. In 2008, an original signed copy of this book set a record at auction for the highest price ever achieved for an illustrated children's book. This carefully crafted edition offers 10 of the original fairy tales, reviving the detail and artistry of Nielsen’s illustrations to their full glory. It contains 41 images, including many enlarged details from Nielsen’s rare original watercolors. Accompanied by three essays and adorned with dozens of rare and previously unseen pieces by Nielsen, the book delves into the history of Norwegian folktales, Nielsen’s impactful career, and the creation of this remarkable work.