Madeline Goes Down Memory Lane

To the tiger in the zoo, Madeline just said, "Pooh-pooh…", from Madeline, 1939Amongst the many classic children’s books that I have fond memories for, one series recently came back to mind: those of Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans (1898–1962).

Bemelmans was born in Austria-Hungary but emigrated to America as a youth after an unfortunate incident in which he shot and seriously wounded a waiter at his uncle’s hotel! He became a US citizen in 1918, living mostly in New York. It was there in the 1930s that he began writing and publishing children’s books, and the first Madeline book – a manuscript scrawled on the back of a bar menu – appeared in 1939. He published only six stories of her, though a seventh was discovered after his death. He also wrote many books for adults, and illustrated for magazines such as The New Yorker, Harper’s Bazaar and Town & Country.

The girls in midwinter; watercolor and gouache, from Madeline, 1939I don’t actually remember the stories themselves very well, but the beautiful illustrations have always stuck with me. Bemelmans worked in watercolour, gouache, and oils, and there is a marvellous freedom of expression and lack of self-consciousness – as well as joyful humour – in the linework. It is that wonderful joie de vivre in the lighthearted drawings, as well as the feisty personality of the heroine, that is so appealing and memorable. My favourites out of this series is the drawing of the tiger, which looks absolutely and hilariously insane, and the delightful oil painting of Madeline at the flower market.

Scroll down for a trip down memory lane to childhood.

Madeline's Rescue, 1953Madeline at the Paris flower market, painting in oils from 1955Pen, ink, watercolor, and gouache of a dummy cover for the title Madeline and the Bad Hat, 1956Madeline and the Bad Hat, 1956Madeline and the Bad Hat, 1956Madeline and the Gypsies, 1959Images from Daily Mail.