Studio: international art (67.1916)

The Line Drawings of IV. Heath Robinson

of fancy which the illustration of fairy tales had
stimulated.

Some of these drawings for “A Midsummer
Night’s Dream ” are here reproduced. They dis-
play very clearly the individualities of Mr. Heath
Robinson’s style, the blend of fact and fancy, of
realism and convention, which are characteristic
alike of his invention and his method. They also
exhibit, in common with the drawings selected from
other sources, that instinct for decorative arrange-
ment and harmonious balance in design which is
one of his chief preoccupations.

At the present moment much excellent work
from Mr. Heath Robinson’s pen is to be seen
in the pages of the “ Strand Magazine,” many of
the stories for children which are a recognised
feature of that periodical having been entrusted
to his care of late. One such illustration is the
large double-page drawing given here, which
is an interesting epitome of the many inventions
that the artist has sought out. One finds here

assembled and “ consolidated,” if the phraseology
of the hour may be employed, the results of all
those tentative explorations and experimental
essays which make the earlier phases of his work
so interesting, in spite of relative immaturity.

One might suppose, from that capacity for
painstaking application which must be evident to
the most casual observer of his work, that Mr.
Heath Robinson, having found a comfortable
groove, would be content to settle in it. That
seems hardly likely, however, for the history of
his development so far has been one of continual
experiment, and even when he has felt most satis-
fied with his work he has never fallen into the
deadly trap of complacency. It is understood
that the artist is now engaged upon a new series
of illustrations, which will doubtless be seen in
the near future. They will be awaited with no
little curiosity, and it will be matter for surprise
if they do not show the artist still feeling after
something new.

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