When Is It Art and When Is it Illustration?

On occasion, when an art critic wants to dismiss the work of a fine artist, terms such as "illustrative", "decorative", and "graphic" or "commercial" are applied. Illustrative is used to imply lack of originality, decorative to imply superficiality, and graphic design to imply commercial art done to a client's brief. Henri Matisse was for a long time dismissed as "essentially decorative", according to his biographer Hilary Spurling. So how does the famed children's book illustrator Eric Carle, whose work is currently on exhibition at the Tacoma Art Museum (until 21 January 2007) feel about it? In answer to the question "Are You an Artist?" on his official website, Carle says: "Yes ... As a picture-book artist I fall somewhere between the two [commercial and fine artist]. I do have a product—my books, and clients—my readers. But like the purists I am able to do my books the way I want, when I want."

Curator of education for Tacoma Art Museum, Paula McArdle, is quoted in the museum's press release as saying Eric Carle's "vibrantly colored collage ... use bold colors, rich textures, and playful forms that are readily recognizable to viewers both young and old." If you think collage is just for people who can't paint using a brush, then Eric Carle's work will be a revelation to you. Perhaps the most famous of his 70-odd books is The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has been in print since 1969.

Find Out More:
• Official Eric Carle Website
• The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
• Review: The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Children's Books)
• Top 10 Tacoma Attractions (Northwestern United States for Visitors)

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