Transformation by Blanche Fisher Wright

Transformation by Blanche Fisher Wright 

C.1916

Color Lithograph

This illustration, titled "Transformation," is a full-page color plate from the 1918 first edition of The Peter Patter Book: Rhymes for Children. The artwork was created by prolific American illustrator Blanche Fisher Wright (1887–1971) to accompany a nursery rhyme written by Leroy F. Jackson. The scene depicts a domestic moment where a woman in a purple gown and striped apron washes a small white dog in a wooden tub, while a young girl with a red bow stands nearby holding a towel. The piece is executed in Wright's signature style, featuring clean, bold outlines and a soft, vibrant color palette typical of early 20th-century children's publications.

The piece is situated within the "Golden Age" of children's book illustration, a period when visually dominant storytelling began to replace purely text-based books. Published by Rand McNally & Co., The Peter Patter Book was designed to bring the whimsical spirit of Mother Goose into a modern American context through Jackson's rhythmic, humorous verses. Blanche Fisher Wright is best known for her landmark 1916 work The Real Mother Goose, which established the "quintessential" visual identity for nursery rhymes that persists today. This specific piece is significant as it reflects the era's shift toward high-quality, visually appealing art intended to foster emotional intelligence and imagination in young children. Wright’s ability to capture both the "innocence and mischief" of the early 1900s has made her original 1918 illustrations highly collectible artifacts of American literary history.

Dimensions: H 11 1/2" x 9 1/2" W

Condition: Excellent Condition