It’s about the children

Walter Trier, the illustrator of Erich Kästner's children's books

Erich Kästner’s children’s classic „Emil and the Detectives“ sports one of the most iconic covers in children’s literature – created by Walter Trier. Bold, bright yellow backgrounds became his trademark style and, together with his lovingly cheeky characters, they have contributed to the worldwide success of Erich Kästner's children's books. Walter Trier has given Erich Kästner's stories, which are told with humour and morality, a timelessly modern, humorous touch. His colourful, comical, narrative style of drawing continues to delight generations of children to this day. He was and still is a great role model for many illustrators.

Born in Prague in 1890, Walter Trier was an extremely popular and successful caricaturist, illustrator, and draughtsman even before the First World War and later in the Weimar Republic. After the rise of the National Socialists, the Jewish artist emigrated to London and then spent the last years of his life in Canada. From the end of the 1920s, he had a chequered artistic and personal relationship with Erich Kästner. Until his death in 1951, Walter Trier illustrated all of Erich Kästner's children's books as well as his adaptations of fairy tales and classics.

The travelling exhibition is dedicated to Walter Trier’s illustrations for Erich Kästner’s children’s books, but also portrays the artist and person Walter Trier, who was behind the cheeky and cheerful illustrations. One focus of the exhibition is on the peace parable “The Animals’ Conference”, which Erich Kästner wrote based on an idea by Jella Lepman, the founder of the International Youth Library, and which Walter Trier illustrated during his exile in Canada.

Content:
5 introductory panels on Walter Trier’s life and work, 20 picture panels on 10 books including a short introduction to each book, 12 panels with a digitised original illustration each to all in all 4 books, additional material to the books „Emil and the Detectives“ and „The Animals‘ Conference“. Further details available upon request

Languages:
Available in German. Translations upon request

Illustrations from:
Erich Kästner: “ Emil and the Detectives”, “Till Eulenspiegel” (retelling), “The Animals‘ Conference”, illustrated by Walter Trier