East of the Sun and West of the Moon #1, Kay Nielsen, 1914

Kay Nielsen (1886–1957) was a Danish illustrator and a key figure of the Golden Age of Illustration, which roughly spanned from the 1880s to the 1920s. This era was defined by advances in printing technology that allowed for richly detailed and colorful illustrations to be widely distributed in books and magazines, sparking a boom in visual storytelling. Nielsen’s intricate, decorative style brought fairy tales to life with elegance and fantasy, creating dreamlike, richly detailed images that have become iconic.

His work starkly contrasts with today’s Disney “new look,” which is widely criticized for its bland, formless, blob-like characters. While Nielsen’s art overflows with delicate linework, dramatic silhouettes, and emotional depth, modern Disney animation prioritizes simplified, rounded shapes that sacrifice artistic richness for a generic, mass-appeal look—resulting in visuals many perceive as dull and uninspired.

This illustration is from East of the Sun and West of the Moon, Kay Nielsen, 1914, a project that showcases Nielsen’s ability to bring Scandinavian fairy tales to life with sumptuous detail and enchanting artistry, perfectly representing the imaginative richness of the Golden Age of Illustration.