Speechless: The Art of Wordless Picture Books
In 1932, Ruth Carroll illustrated the first wordless picture book for children, What Whiskers Did. Another wordless book did not appear in America until 30 years later.David Wiesner
David Wiesner has won six Caldecott citations, five of which were awarded for his tour-de-force wordless picture books. He’s now traded in his paints and brushes to curate Speechless, an exhibition celebrating other masters of the craft, including some of the artists who influenced his own remarkable career. In Speechless, Wiesner presents a 90-year history of graphic storytelling and examines how the wordless genre for children developed over time. Showcasing 22 seminal titles, the exhibition traces the form’s emergence from the shadows of mainstream publishing to its enthusiastic embrace by the public today.
Curated by David Wiesner.
What to Expect
On view are 90 illustrations, preparatory sketches, and book dummies dating from 1932 to the present. A graphic timeline traces the publication history of wordless stories. The welcoming reading area offers over 100 wordless books to explore, including several out-of-print examples. Visitors are invited to draw their own wordless stories in a gallery activity.
Istvan Banyai's pictures resemble animation cels. He outlined them in black ink on clear acetate and painted in flat, vibrant colors on the reverse side.
In Another, Christian Robinson transports readers into a girl's dream world and back out again. His pictures shift from dark to light, change points of view, and use shape, pattern, texture, and color to create visually exciting illustrations.
In Wolf in the Snow, Matthew Cordell tells a story of an encounter between a child in a red coat and a wolf pup. Those visual connections to Little Red Riding Hood immediately create tension for anyone familiar with the old folk tale.
Tomi Ungerer's books are funny and beautifully drawn, and his line-work is expressive and full of character. In Snail, Where Are You? Ungerer designs his drawings around the spiral shape of a snail shell.
Raul Colon's love of drawing inspired his book Draw! Like his childhood self, the main character of the book loses himself in the act of drawing-literally!
Picnic is the first book in Emily Arnold McCully's series of wordless stories about a mouse family. It is funny, suspenseful, and heartwarming.
The Red Book is the first title in Barbara Lehman's ongoing exploration of wordless storytelling. It tells the fantastical story of two children who connect across time and space.
Wave is the first book in Suzy Lee’s “Border Trilogy.” It is a simple story about the complex relationship between a girl and a wave.
Featured Artists
Molly Bang, Istvan Banyai, Ruth Carroll, Raúl Colón, Matthew Cordell, Donald Crews, Marla Frazee, Tana Hoban, Molly Idle, Suzy Lee, Barbara Lehman, Emily Arnold McCully, Jerry Pinkney, Chris Raschka, Christian Robinson, Eric Rohmann, Peter Sís, Shaun Tan, Tomi Ungerer, Issa Watanabe, Lynd Ward
