Ugo Fontana. Illustrare per l'Infanzia

Ugo Fontana (1921-1985) was a Florentine illustrator who dedicated his life's work to children's books. From the 1940s until his death, Fontana worked for Italy's major publishers (Fabbri, Mondadori, Marzocco-Giunti etc.) especially producing large format fairy stories, many for the very popular Fiabe Sonore series that practically no Italian home was without in the 1960s. He also illustrated novels, book covers and learning books like, for example, Grandi Regine (Queens) an overview of women sovereigns from ancient times to the modern day. Here, his vast knowledge of the history of art was harnessed to produce sophisticated compositions and amazing portraits.
Fontana's focus on childhood and the child's complex interior world (his children are shown in the full gamut of moods), gave his work an extraordinary sensitivity and quality. His dedication to what he considered the greatest challenge - illustrating for children - led him to illustrate more than 250 books.
Returning to examine Fontana's work in an age where illustration techniques are swifter, more superficial and rarely painstakingly 'manual', prompts reflection on the current state of illustrations for children and where they could or should be going.
This catalogue in English and Italian includes a wide selection of works by Ugo Fontana, an artist who illustrated the most well-known and successful children's books of his day, works that now enjoy a cult following and have become prized collector items.