Cor Blok is a Dutch illustrator who was responsible for some of the earliest visual interpretations of the stories in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, created shortly after the books were published (1958–1962). They employ beautiful flat muted tones and a sort of naive look, in part like a children’s book and a bit like a medieval tapestry.
It’s amazing to me that his work got lost in the decades… of all the art and interpretations of Tolkien’s work I had never seen these ever. And they are fun and unique and so different to the rest of the visuals you see… and even somehow more relevant and influential than the more known work (please see illustrator Jon Klassen). Admittedly this is just subjective to my own taste, but I love these works as much as any of the more serious peter jackson film things.
There are many interpretations of Tolkien’s work, from Tolkien himself, to the psychedelic work of Barbara Remington, to the more serious and fantasy of Peter Jackson in film. I am personally very grateful that all this variety exists. That high fantasy could take many shapes outside the mainstream.
Works from Jon Klassen that seem like they would be quite influenced by Mr Blok. Aesthetically related if not literally used inspiration.