Cow by Fern Bisel Peat

Cow by Fern Bisel Peat 

1939

photomechanical offset lithography

This delightful color print is a full-page illustration from the 1939 children's book When Toys Could Talk by Jane Randall. The artwork was created by acclaimed American illustrator Fern Bisel Peat to bring a playful story to life. The scene features a stylized toy calf leaping or peeking over a white wooden fence against a soft blue background. The calf is rendered with a black body covered in a vibrant yellow floral print, contrasted by a red and white checkered head and a long, matching checkered tail that curls playfully into the air. A stylized pink and black polka-dot flower with dark blue leaves grows in the foreground, and Peat's signature is prominently scripted in the lower right corner. The illustration beautifully displays Peat's iconic design approach, utilizing bold outlines, flat colors, and geometric folk-art textile patterns.

The piece is situated within a flourishing era of American children's book illustration. Published by the Saalfield Publishing Company of Akron, Ohio, this work showcases the unique talents of Fern Bisel Peat. Peat was a prolific artist, magazine editor, and interior decorator specializing in children's rooms. She stood out as a successful female leader in an industry largely dominated by male artists, eventually serving as the art director for Children's Playmate magazine. This specific illustration is significant because it perfectly bridges her publishing work with her commercial toy designs. Her iconic, easily recognizable animal motifs were widely manufactured on tinware, tea sets, and nursery furniture during the 1930s. Original color plates from this scarce 1939 printing remain highly collectible examples of early modern American decorative art.

Dimensions: H 11 ¾”x 10”W

Condition: Barely visible tear on left edge