AFTER DARK IN THE PARK - Deco Period
The international design style art deco originated near the outset of World War I and remained popular through the end of World War II (circa 1915-1945). Many of Ted Geisel’s paintings of the 1930s and ’40s used an artistic element derived from his most successful pen and ink work as a commercial illustrator. Referred to here as Geisel’s Deco Period, these works allude to his instinctive use of saturated black backgrounds, often combined with art deco elements found within the architecture or backdrop of artworks from this time frame. Ultimately, he created a new visual language that accentuated the muted pallets so characteristic of this era. From signature smoke rings billowing from Seussian mountaintops to architectural labyrinths decorating otherworldly landscapes, elements such as these reflected Ted Geisel’s creative interpretations during the art deco movement.
