Eric Carle
(Syracuse 1929 – Massachusetts 2021)
Composition (2011)
Signed lower right
Annotated For Hens with Love on your retirement lower left and dated 2011 lower centre
Hand-painted paper collage on cardboard, 31.9 x 25.4 cm (image size) / 50.8 x 37.9 cm (sheet size)
Note:
Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Rupsje Nooitgenoeg) and many other enchanting picture books for children. In 2002, he founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. He steadfastly refuses to sell his work, so few of his pictures ever come on the market.

The work on offer is made up of gouache-painted paper which has been cut out and processed into a collage in the same colour patterns as his most famous character. Along the bottom edge the text “For Hens” is written; Hens Gottmer was the publisher of Carle’s books in the Netherlands (J.H. Gottmer/H.J.W. Becht B.V., Haarlem).