The secret 'midnight paintings' of Dr Seuss in pictures | Books

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The secret 'midnight paintings' of Dr Seuss – in pictures

Over a lifetime of sleepless nights, Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka children’s author Dr Seuss, created hundreds of artworks he called his ‘Midnight Paintings’. Although famous for his rhyming picture books, Geisel created topical and surrealist art, much of which was kept private until his death

Main image: Photograph: The Art of Dr Seuss and Liss Gallery

Wed 13 Jul 2016 07.30 EDT Last modified on Wed 19 Oct 2022 10.24 EDT

  • A Prayer for a Child

    This 1955 oil painting, depicting a child’s small place in the universe, was printed in Collier’s magazine alongside a poem that read: “From here on earth, from my small place, I ask of You way out in space: Please tell all men in every land | what You and I both understand. Please tell all men that peace is good. That’s all that need be understood | in every world in Your great sky. We understand. Both You and I.” • All photographs: The Art of Dr Seuss and Liss Gallery

  • Kid You’ll Move Mountains

    An illustration from the 1990 Dr Seuss book, Oh! The Places You Will Go. The title came from a handshake Geisel performed with friends at college: “When I went to college, it was a campy thing to say, ‘Oh, the places you’ll go! [to which the reply was] The people you’ll meet!’”

  • Wisdom of the Orient Cat

    Geisel produced this oil painting in 1964, one of many artworks he produced of big cats. The Orient Cat is seen adopting a pose used by his Cat in the Hat in 1957 – demurely holding its tail.

  • After Dark in the Park

    A 1933 watercolour and ink painting created for the cover of the June 1933 issue of weekly satire magazine Judge. Geisel began working in its New York offices as a satirical cartoonist in 1927

  • Martini Bird

    A watercolour that was first made public in 2004 by Geisel’s wife, Audrey. It was one of 11 spoof paintings of California socialites created by Geisel during his time living in La Jolla, called La Jolla Birdwomen. • These artworks are currently on display in the Art of Dr Seuss exhibition at Vancouver’s Pendulum Gallery, until 30 July
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