Robert Ingpen is one of Australia’s best known illustrators, overseas.   

It was some 35 years ago that he became the first Australian to win IBBY’s Hans Christian Andersen medal for illustration and he has had a huge output since, in his immediately recognizable style.  Yet local critical analysis of his work (and of illustrators-as-artists generally) is scarce. 

His depiction of mythical worlds and of the human details of legends, and the intellectual depth that he gives to each scene, can be so breath-taking in its immediacy that it demands considered and thoughtful response. And, gradually, he is starting to get this type of recognition.  A formal exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery in 2003 displayed him as an artist and now Pictures telling stories presents two voices of analysis of his work and his approach to it. 

One is his own.  Throughout the sumptuous collection of illustrations, he gives a running commentary of the intentions, influences and decisions that moulded his final work.  In some cases drafts are included to demonstrate a particular aspect, emphasizing his feeling that illustrations do not fix a permanent image of the topic but should encourage the viewer to take it further with their own thoughts and memories. 

It is a risky technique as it would be very easy for either vanity or modesty to dilute that voice.  Ingpen, however, gives an open and clear assessment of the ideas he was trying to present and the particular choices he made for that work.   

The second voice in the book is that of Sarah Mayor Cox, an academic observer of children’s literature and, thus, of Ingpen’s place in that world.  She does not preach or glorify or clinically dissect, but simply explains how myth and dreaming is part of our lives and how Robert is a master at picturing it.  She identifies influences like the air and light of JM Turner and describes Ingpen’s use of space as a challenge to the reader. 

His art is not prescriptive – there is space left for each viewer to add ideas. His versions of myths and legends such as Atlantis, Alice in Wonderland, Shakespeare, or the Poppykettle draw you into those worlds, looking at the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances as if you were one of them.  His real life pictures, such as Scott staring at Amundsen’s tent at the South Pole, or a bird with a broken beak, are powerful and emotional, drawing that personal response. 

Pictures telling stories is a magnificent sumptuous volume which you can read carefully, cover to cover, or just dip into anywhere. But more that that, it is a landmark book which considers the art of the illustrator as an intellectual and creative endeavour in its own right, rather than just a vehicle for someone else’s words.  Lothian have released it at a bargain price for a hardback art title.  It would be great now to see follow up titles on artists like Shaun Tan, Peter Gouldthorpe, Julie Vivas, Noela Young … the list could be endless!

Review by David Beagley

© 2004 David Beagley