John Hassall (illustrator)
Encyclopedia
John Hassall was born in Walmer
, Kent
on 21 May 1868, died 8 March 1948 and was an English
illustrator
.
Hassall educated in Worthing, at Newton Abbot College and at Neuenheim College, Heidelberg
. After twice failing entry to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, he emigrated to Manitoba
in Canada in 1888 to begin farming with his brother Owen. He returned to London two years later when he had drawings accepted by the Graphic. At the suggestion of Dudley Hardy
(along with Cecil Aldin
, a life-long friend), he studied art in Antwerp and Paris. During this time he was influenced by the famous poster artist Alphonse Mucha. In 1895, he began work as an advertising artist for David Allen & Sons, a career which lasted fifty years and included such well-known projects as the poster "Skegness is so Bracing" (1908). Making use of flat colours enclosed by thick black lines, his poster style was very suitable for children's books, and he produced many volumes of nursery rhymes and fairy stories, now fetching high prices on eBays, such as Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes (1909.
In 1901, Hassall was elected to the membership of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
and the Royal Society of Miniature Painters. He also belonged to several clubs, including the Langham (until 1898), the Savage, and perhaps most notably, the London Sketch Club
(of which he was a President 1903-4).
In 1900, Hassall opened his own New Art School and School of Poster Design in Kensington where he numbered Bert Thomas, Bruce Bairnsfather
, H. M. Bateman
and Harry Rountree
among his students. The school was closed at the outbreak of the First World War
. In the post-war period, he ran the very successful John Hassall Correspondence School.
John Hassall was the father of poet Christopher Hassall
and the printmaker Joan Hassall
, OBE
. He was also the grandfather of the actress Imogen Hassall
and grandfather (and surrogate father) to noted "green" architect, David Dobereiner.
Arguably John Hassall's most famous creation was the Jolly Fisherman
in 1908 and is regarded as one of the most famous holiday advertisements of all time. His design for the Kodak's Kodak Girl in her iconic striped blue and white dress, in 1910, became a feature of Kodak's advertising to the 1970s. Hassall's design was continually updated to reflect changing fashions and trends and was longer lasting and of greater international significance than his Jolly Fisherman.
Walmer
Walmer is a town in the district of Dover, Kent in England: located on the coast, the parish of Walmer is six miles north-east of Dover. Largely residential, its coastline and castle attract many visitors...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 21 May 1868, died 8 March 1948 and was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
.
Hassall educated in Worthing, at Newton Abbot College and at Neuenheim College, Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
. After twice failing entry to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, he emigrated to Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in Canada in 1888 to begin farming with his brother Owen. He returned to London two years later when he had drawings accepted by the Graphic. At the suggestion of Dudley Hardy
Dudley Hardy
Dudley Hardy, RI, ROI, RBA, RMS, PS, , was an English painter and illustrator....
(along with Cecil Aldin
Cecil Aldin
Cecil Charles Windsor Aldin was a British artist and illustrator best known for his paintings and sketches of animals, sports, and rural life.-Life and work:...
, a life-long friend), he studied art in Antwerp and Paris. During this time he was influenced by the famous poster artist Alphonse Mucha. In 1895, he began work as an advertising artist for David Allen & Sons, a career which lasted fifty years and included such well-known projects as the poster "Skegness is so Bracing" (1908). Making use of flat colours enclosed by thick black lines, his poster style was very suitable for children's books, and he produced many volumes of nursery rhymes and fairy stories, now fetching high prices on eBays, such as Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes (1909.
In 1901, Hassall was elected to the membership of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours , initially called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, , is one of the societies in the Federation of British Artists, based in the Mall Galleries in London.-History:In 1831 the society was founded as the New Society of Painters in Water...
and the Royal Society of Miniature Painters. He also belonged to several clubs, including the Langham (until 1898), the Savage, and perhaps most notably, the London Sketch Club
London Sketch Club
The London Sketch Club was founded on 1 April 1898 as a social club for artists working in the field of commercial graphic art, mainly for newspapers, periodicals and books. The founder members were Dudley Hardy, Phil May, Walter Fowler, Lance Thackeray, Cecil Aldin, W Sanders Fiske, Walter...
(of which he was a President 1903-4).
In 1900, Hassall opened his own New Art School and School of Poster Design in Kensington where he numbered Bert Thomas, Bruce Bairnsfather
Bruce Bairnsfather
Captain Bruce Bairnsfather was a prominent British humorist and cartoonist. His best-known cartoon character is Old Bill...
, H. M. Bateman
H. M. Bateman
Henry Mayo Bateman was a British humorous artist and cartoonist.H. M. Bateman was noted for his "The Man Who..." series of cartoons, featuring comically exaggerated reactions to minor and usually upper-class social gaffes, such as "The Man Who Lit His Cigar Before the Loyal Toast", "The Man Who...
and Harry Rountree
Harry Rountree
Harry Rountree was a prolific illustrator working in England around the turn of the 19/20th centuries. He came from New Zealand in 1901 to London, when he was 23 years old....
among his students. The school was closed at the outbreak of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In the post-war period, he ran the very successful John Hassall Correspondence School.
John Hassall was the father of poet Christopher Hassall
Christopher Hassall
Christopher Vernon Hassall was an English actor, dramatist, librettist, lyricist and poet, who found his greatest fame in a memorable musical partnership with the actor and composer Ivor Novello after working together in the same touring company...
and the printmaker Joan Hassall
Joan Hassall
Joan Hassall, was a wood engraver, book illustrator and typographer. Her subject matter ranged from natural history to illustrations for English literary classics...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. He was also the grandfather of the actress Imogen Hassall
Imogen Hassall
Imogen Hassall was an English actress who appeared in 33 films during the 1960s and 1970s.- Early life :...
and grandfather (and surrogate father) to noted "green" architect, David Dobereiner.
Arguably John Hassall's most famous creation was the Jolly Fisherman
The Jolly Fisherman
The Jolly Fisherman is a poster created by artist John Hassall in 1908 after he had been commissioned by the Great Northern Railways . It is regarded as one of the most famous holiday advertisements of all time and is believed to have significantly influenced the success of Skegness, Lincolnshire...
in 1908 and is regarded as one of the most famous holiday advertisements of all time. His design for the Kodak's Kodak Girl in her iconic striped blue and white dress, in 1910, became a feature of Kodak's advertising to the 1970s. Hassall's design was continually updated to reflect changing fashions and trends and was longer lasting and of greater international significance than his Jolly Fisherman.
External links
- John Hassall Kodak Girl poster
- John Hassall Kodak Girl and Brownie poster
- John Hassall Genealogy and Family History Tree
- BBC article on "Skegness is so Bracing" and John Hassall
- The official National Railway Museum print website containing a number of Jolly Fisherman posters
- Victoria & Albert Museum reproduction of "Skegness is so Bracing" artwork
- website for Jolly Fisherman & "Skegness is so Bracing" by John Hassall
- The Jolly Fisherman Gallery with Images of John Hassall