SAN ANTONIO, TX.- Carnivorous plants, falling masonry, and uninvited guests fill the unique, imaginary world of American author and illustrator Edward Gorey (1925–2000). His stories and accompanying illustrations maintain a delicate balance between the hilarious and the horrific, often resembling children’s books. Gorey is well known to millions for his images used in the animated title sequence for PBS’s program Mystery!
More than 175 of Gorey’s original works are included in this exhibition, organized by the Brandywine River Museum. Drawings for books, illustrations produced for other writers, and theatrical designs offer a rich exploration of the artist’s output. Among the book titles represented are The Blue Aspic, The Hapless Child, The Loathsome Couple, and The Unstrung Harp, as well as Gorey’s illustrations for T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Costume designs for the comic operetta The Mikado, a backdrop for the ballet Giselle, and a set design for the play Dracula are included among his works for theatre.
