The Iconic Art of Garden Gnomes
We love the art of garden gnomes. Gnomes have appeared in many different art forms over the last 150 years. For centuries, they were seen on posters, pamphlets, books, postcards, and all kinds of advertising materials. It was common to see gnomes advertising everything from soap to beer, cutlery, sewing machines, and even laxatives. These cheerful figures offended no one and appealed to adults and children alike.
Who are the artists of garden gnomes? Here are some of our favorite animators, artists, and storytellers from past and present. Their work is incredible!
- Jenny Nyström (1854-1946) was a prolific painter who was best known for her Christmas works. She depicted her works with the image of a gnome-like figure, the julttomte, from Swedish folklore. Her postcards are beautiful.
- Rien Poortvliet (1932-1995) created together with Wil Huygen their famous book "Gnomes", a fictional guide that documents their characteristics, behavior, and habitats.
- Sir Peter Blake designed one of the most iconic images in pop art for the Beatles album "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band". Many people are depicted on the album cover, including Bob Dylan and Marilyn Monroe, but if you look closely, you will notice that a garden gnome is also visible in the picture.
- Kiri Østergaard Leonard is an award-winning fantasy artist whose works reflect Nordic myths, folklore, and fairy tales. She is a skilled storyteller and we love her sleeping garden gnome. You can discover more of her works at www.kirileonard.com.
Look closely around you. There are more gnomes than you think, and they are not all sitting in your garden taking care of it!