The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Reimagined
Illustrated by Olimpia Zagnoli, a new and bold interpretation of the classic story
One of the world’s best-known stories, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was published way back in 1900 by L. Frank Baum (who went on to write 13 more Oz books) and it’s remained a favorite for both children and adults—thanks in large part to the 1939 musical-style film starring Judy Garland—ever since. While the original books were beautifully illustrated (by William Wallace Denslow and then John R. Neill), a new iteration of the classic quasi-fairytale just released by Rockport Publishers and illustrated by Olimpia Zagnoli is sure to thrill new readers and those returning to the story.
Zagnoli (who graduated from Istituto Europeo di Design in 2006) has created striking work for an impressive list of clients including The New Yorker, Monocle, Taschen, Vanity Fair and has designed everything from playfully rude T-shirts to erotically inspired plates and just about everything in between. This tome is a testament to her unique, bold style and undeniable talent.
As part of Rockport’s Classics Reimagined series, this new edition of Oz—aptly saturated in emerald green—modernizes the story, while paying homage to the past. Zagnoli’s vision permeates the book, adding moods and angles perhaps never seen within the pages before. She conveys a lot through simple shapes and repeated patterns; the sometimes sparse pages are only bolstered by their blank spaces. From the simplistic curl of the winged monkeys’ tails to the golden hot air balloon, Zagnoli’s illustrations are made up solely of black, white, green and gold—creating a powerful, contemporary visual story that perfectly matches the 114-year-old tale.
The Rockport Classics Reimagined version of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is available for purchase online for $25.
Images by Cool Hunting
