Kay Nielsen, Illustration to The Lassie and Her Godmother, “Then he coaxed her down and took her home,” for East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Old Tales from the North, 1913–14. Watercolor and pen and ink. Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection.

Kay Nielsen, Illustration to The Lassie and Her Godmother, "Then he coaxed her down and took her home" (detail), for East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Old Tales from the North, 1913–14. Watercolor and pen and ink. Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection.

Enter a world of beauty from the mind of a rare visionary

Luminous and often haunting, Kay Nielsen’s interpretations of classic fairy tales are among the most celebrated book illustrations of the 20th century. Showcasing more than 45 dramatic watercolors, drawings, and illustrated books from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection, “Kay Nielsen’s Enchanted Vision” celebrates the Danish artist’s significant achievements in illustration while highlighting some of his work in theater design and animation.

Born in Copenhagen and educated in Paris, Nielsen (1886–1957) gained international recognition for his exquisite gift book illustrations, notably his masterpiece East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Old Tales from the North (1914), a collection of Norwegian fairy tales. In contrast to some of his contemporaries, Kay (pronounced kigh) Nielsen often focused on the melancholic or dramatic elements of tales, creating memorable visual sequences reflecting themes of love, passion, loss, and death.

Illustrations in the exhibition are complemented by a Fendi gown and evening bag designed by Karl Lagerfeld for his Fall/Winter 2016 “Legends and Fairy Tales” couture collection, which drew inspiration from Nielsen’s watercolors for East of the Sun and West of the Moon. These dazzling contemporary additions, shown directly alongside their source material, demonstrate how Nielsen’s work continues to resonate today.