SERIES OVERVIEW:
This series attempts to showcase material by artists whose work might be described as 'decadent' in its style or subject matter.
It does not intend to give anything other than the briefest of biographical overviews (though references for such are given within each entry). It instead aims to present a short selection of illustrations which are either typical of the artists work or perhaps illustrate a text or theme that falls within the remit of the series.
We welcome suggestions or contributions to this ongoing series.
Perusers of the Side Real Press editions of Hanns Heinz Ewers will already be aware of the work of Mahlon Blaine. A handy overview is given here, and I highly recommend the Brian J. Hunts book "The Outlandish Art of Mahlon Blaine" which is linked here. The latter gives examples from many of books Blaine worked on, as well as material from Hunts own collection.
However, on this page we present Blaines illustrations to Flauberts strange visionary book 'The Temptation of St Anthony' (Williams, Balasco and Meyers 1930).
Not only is it typical of Blaines style and subject matter, but it is interesting to compare his illustrations to those done by Jean De Bosschere (see them here) who also undertook a series for this book- albeit from a different translation- six years earlier.
It does not intend to give anything other than the briefest of biographical overviews (though references for such are given within each entry). It instead aims to present a short selection of illustrations which are either typical of the artists work or perhaps illustrate a text or theme that falls within the remit of the series.
We welcome suggestions or contributions to this ongoing series.
MAHLON BLAINE
INTRODUCTION
However, on this page we present Blaines illustrations to Flauberts strange visionary book 'The Temptation of St Anthony' (Williams, Balasco and Meyers 1930).
Not only is it typical of Blaines style and subject matter, but it is interesting to compare his illustrations to those done by Jean De Bosschere (see them here) who also undertook a series for this book- albeit from a different translation- six years earlier.
MAHLON BLAINE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR
'THE TEMPTATION OF ST. ANTHONY'
(Williams, Balasco and Meyers 1930)
'THE TEMPTATION OF ST. ANTHONY'
(Williams, Balasco and Meyers 1930)
(Frontis)
"A naked woman was fettered to a column and two soldiers were flogging her with thongs"
(Page 45)
"Handsome Hermit! My heart swoons"
(Page 97)
"She caroused with them during the nights"
(Page 125)
"These are the virgins of Babylon who prostitute themselves to the goddess"
(Page 169)
"She is as blond as honey, and plump, with paint upon her cheeks and roses upon her head".
"A naked woman was fettered to a column and two soldiers were flogging her with thongs"
"Handsome Hermit! My heart swoons"
"She caroused with them during the nights"
"These are the virgins of Babylon who prostitute themselves to the goddess"
"She is as blond as honey, and plump, with paint upon her cheeks and roses upon her head".
