Thank you, thank you BoingBoing! This beautiful map inspired me in childhood. I found and framed a copy for Jumper Girl's bedroom, and have been longing for two more, to give to each set of grandchildren. Now I know where to order it:
From the website for ordering the print from Rosen-Ducat Imaging, with my links added
Buy your copy here.This work of art was created by artist," Jaro Hess" while living in Grand Rapids Michigan around the turn of the last century.
Hess’s compilation of more the fifty nursery rhymes into a single work of art has many admirers. RDI released the series first reproductions of this work of art back in 2000. We regularly receive calls and emails, from adults who grew up with the "Land of Make Believe". When it was hard to fall asleep, children would trace the path that winds through out the print. Prints that were hanging in doctors offices had a calming affect on scared little ones. Where there was a "Land of Make Believe", children could relax and enjoy finding their favorite fairy tale characters.
The prints history is shrouded in mystery. The best that can be discerned is that, around the beginning of the great depression, Hess bartered the image for payment on a furniture purchase. Times were hard, it must have been extremely difficult for Jaro to part with his wonderful work. Hess, continued painting until his death. Hess's works seems to portray a lyrical child like facsination with fantasy based characters.
Throughout the last century children of all ages have embraced this map. We regurly receive stories describing the happiness this art work brought to children and adults from of all ages through the years.
The image is a compilation of many fairy tale stories and their characters, such as “Jack and the Beanstalk, Hansel and Gretel, even,"the cow that jumped over the moon". A few of the story characters in the art work have lost their place in popular culture. Characters like the “Castle of Glass”, the “Castle of Bronze” and the good old “Moo Moo Bird”.
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