In shadows deep, where whispers creep,
And curious things disturb your sleep,
There dwelled a man with pen in hand,
Who drew the strange, the dark, the grand.
His creatures lurked in lines so fine,
In worlds where missteps intertwine.
With humor dry and death a theme,
He painted all that you might dream.
From ghastly tots in grim despair,
To creepy cats with vacant stare,
He spun a world both odd and true,
A world where fears and fun both grew.
Oh Gorey, who in darkest ink,
Showed us that life is but a blink—
A blink too short to waste in cheer,
So let us toast your 100th year!
Edward Gorey was a distinctive and enigmatic figure in the world of art and literature. Born in 1925, the American illustrator and author became renowned for his dark, whimsical drawings and stories that often blended the macabre with the absurd. His unique artistic style—characterized by intricate, detailed line work—captured the imagination of readers, making him a cult favorite for both children and adults.
To celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday on February 22nd, here are
Five Fun Facts about Edward Gorey:
- Gorey published under several pseudonyms, including Ogdred Weary, Drew Dogyear, and Mrs. Regera Dowdy.
- His famous book The Gashlycrumb Tinies introduced an alphabet where each letter corresponds to a grim, humorous death of, well, children.
- Gorey was an avid lover of cats, often including them in his illustrations. He said quite often her preferred cats to humans. I think we can all relate.
- He had a penchant for theater and designed sets and costumes. An eccentric, to be sure, he attended the New York City Ballet religiously for 3 decades, attending an average of 160 shows her year. (For 30 years, y'all!)
- Gorey's personal library included 26,000 volumes. Dang. That's a lot of books.
Gorey’s legacy continues to inspire with his delightful mix of eerie and eccentric artistry.
You are cordially invited to join The Paper Canopy as we celebrate 100 years of
Edward Gorey’s delightful morbidity, his extraordinary eccentricity,
and his art that continues to disturb and enchant.
You'll find loads of Gorey goodies in the shop this week or browse them here!
