Amazing Illustrations by John Bauer in the Early 20th Century

Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain, 1907

Born 1882 in Jönköping, Swedish painter and illustrator traveled throughout Lappland, Germany and Italy early in his career, and these cultures deeply informed his work. He painted and illustrated in a romantic nationalistic style, in part influenced by the Italian Renaissance and Sami cultures.

h/t: vintag.es

Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain, 1907

Bauer’s work is concerned with landscape and mythology, but he also composed portraits. He is best known for his illustrations of early editions of Bland tomtar och troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls), an anthology of Swedish folklore and fairy tales.

Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain, 1907

Most of Bauer’s works are watercolors or prints in monochrome or muted colours; he also produced oil paintings and frescos. His illustrations and paintings broadened the understanding and appreciation of Swedish folklore, fairy tales and landscape.

Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain, 1907

When Bauer was 36, he drowned, together with his wife Ester and their son Bengt, in a shipwreck on Lake Vättern in southern Sweden in 1918.

A set of amazing illustrations is part of his work that John Bauer painted in the 1900s and 1910s.

Dag and Daga, and the Flying Troll of Sky Mountain, 1907

The Seven Wishes, 1907

Giant, 1909

The Giant Who Slept for Ten Thousand Years, circa 1910s

The Old Troll of Big Mountain, circa 1910s

The Prince Without a Shadow, 1910

The Troll Ride, 1910

The Maiden in the Castle of Rosy Clouds, 1911

Bella’s Glorious Adventure, 1912

Here is a piece of magic herb for you. Something only I can find. The boy who was never afraid, 1912

Humpe climbed up on his lap, 1912

Little boy and Troll, 1912

She Kissed the Bear on the Nose, 1912

The Boy Who Was Never Afraid, 1912

The Magician’s Cape, 1912

A Forest Troll, 1913

Humpe in the Woods, 1913

Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass, 1913

Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass, 1913

Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass, 1913

The Changelings, 1913

The Changelings, 1913

The Changelings, 1913

The Magician’s Cape, 1914

The Queen’s Pearl Necklace, 1914

The Queen’s Pearl Necklace, 1914

The Ring, 1914

The Ring, 1914

When Mother Troll Took in the King’s Washing, 1914

When Mother Troll Took in the King’s Washing, 1914

Bland Tomtar och Troll-2, 1915

Bland Tomtar och Troll-2, 1915

Bland Tomtar och Troll-2, 1915

Bland Tomtar och Troll-2, 1915

Bland Tomtar och Troll-2, 1915

Trolls and princess, 1915