There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe by Fern Bisel Peat

There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe by Fern Bisel Peat

c.1934

Linen Print

Dominated by a monumental, coral-pink boot teeming with playful activity, this mid-1930s color-lithographed linen print offers a wonderfully detailed look into the bustling world of There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. Rendered around 1934 by celebrated American design pioneer Fern Bisel Peat, the sprawling narrative unfolds against a luminous chartreuse background. An old woman with swept-back white hair stands near the collar of the boot, dynamically waving a handkerchief as she leans out over a cluster of her many children who are tucked into bed, reading under the heel, and hanging laundry near the sole. Peat’s trademark Art Deco style anchors the whimsical domestic scene, utilizing clean sweeping curves, a rustic wooden fence woven with morning glories, and soft pops of violet, emerald green, and slate blue. Printed directly onto a heavily textured linen surface, the intricate graphic balances a high-energy narrative with a rich tactile finish perfectly suited for a child's nursery.

This print was originally created as a full-page illustration for a collectible, linenette edition of Mother Goose nursery rhymes, a medium heavily popularized during the Great Depression for its durability and safety in nurseries. Fern Bisel Peat (1893–1971) was a highly influential Ohio-based artist who revolutionized children's decorative arts in the 1920s and 1930s through her work with the Saalfield Publishing Company, her custom children's wallpaper lines, and her innovative wooden toy designs. This piece exemplifies the "Golden Age" of American children's book illustration, showcasing how commercial publishers elevated nursery decor into high-quality graphic art that helped define the visual culture of early 20th-century American childhood.

Dimensions: H 12 ½” x 10”W

Condition: Very good condition