2.08.2011

Jules Verne: The Man Who Invented the Future

As I recuperate from several all-night work sessions because of three maddening deadlines, all within a week of each other, and before I start calling costume rental places asking if they have any chicken suits available, thought I'd share with you all some wonderful illustrations from this neato book on the futurist author Jules Verne. Considering that it's Mr. Verne's birthday today, consider this a little celebration for a man who stirred many an imagination with his wild and hairy stories, well over one-and-a-half centuries ago.

Jules Verne: The Man Who Invented the Future by Franz Born illustrated by Peter P. Plasencia ©1964 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Jules Verne 1

A great book, with even greater illustrations by Peter P. Plasencia, who, as you may recall, illustrated the wonderful Space Alphabet book. I love seeing how Peter utilized the gouache to create various depths of field by the use of the subtle shades of grey. All the while, flattening the space within the composition. Superb work. Love it.

Jules Verne 2
Great use of flattened perspective here.

Jules Verne 3

Jules Verne 4

Jules Verne 5

Jules Verne 6
LOVE this piece. Fantastic composition!

Jules Verne 7

Jules Verne 8
This illustration accompanies the text that Jules Verne's works greatly inspired the explorer Richard Byrd, who flew over the Arctic (pictured here).

I know Verne is not an official "futurist" or "futurologist," but I'd like to think of him as such.

Actually, I'd love to become a futurologist, just so I can say, "I'm a futurologist." Sounds real nice when it rolls off the tongue.

24 comments:

  1. Wow, this stuff is great! Thanks for posting it!!!

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  2. Ditto above - these are really beautiful and dynamic and great great great. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. They're wonderful, Ward - great find! Never heard of him...

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  4. Incredible compositions and great shapes!

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  5. The one with the figures running is probably one of the best images I've seen in a while! I love how simple, but gestural they are. It's just brilliant!

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  6. These are fantatstic! Thanks for posting them!

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  7. I love his style. One can track the influence of these wonderful fifties and sixties artists in so many illustrators of today.

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  8. Holy cow, these just floored me this afternoon! THANK YOU for sharing.

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  9. Fabulous illustrations. It's amazing what can be accomplished with black, white, and shades of grey.

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  10. Fabulous!! Thanks for sharing these gems.

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  11. wow! that one composition...all of them really, what a fantastic post to share! ty, ward!

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  12. Gosh Ward...these are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. WOW!
    Wonderfull illustrations, Ward!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Those are some really amazing illustrations. Thanks for sharing!

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  15. Why can't I find any info online about Peter P. Placencia? I'd really like to buy one of his prints. He should really have a wiki page. These are so gorgeous!

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  16. Wonderful illustrations! Thanks for sharing!

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  17. holy cow these are really great! i love how he balances the grays within these pieces. thanks for posting!

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  18. These are great, thanks for putting them up

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  19. I think he would like this a lot! Keep up the good work!

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  20. These are fabulous, Ward. Are they originally greyscale? Wonder if Josh Agle had eyeballed these at one time.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, they are scanned and presented here as they are in the book. That would be awesome if they were in color, but the black & white really brings out a certain look to the illustrations here.

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