THE EXTRAORDINARY FANTASY ILLUSTRATIONS OF HEINRICH KLEY HD

This is the first in what will be a new series of profiles about illustrators I particularly admire or think are significant. They will all be shorter than usual, either because there isn't enough information or visual material - or both - to justify a longer format without padding, which I try to avoid.
And although he has already featured briefly in the unsung heroes strand I think the work of Heinrich Kley is well worth a more detailed look. I hope you'll agree.
And apparently I've been pronouncing his surname incorrectly for the last half century - it should be 'Kly'.

[@PaulaZF]

When I saw the dancing elephants, a thought came up that I couldn’t place until I saw the dancing hippos from Fantasia. Thank you!

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad I could make the connection. Thanks for the comment.

[@TheMarkEH]

Another insightful episode featuring an illustrator that I had not heard of, thus chipping away at my ignorance. Pete, thanks for all of the work that you do to create this fine body of work.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks for the comment. I'm glad I could introduce you to such a distinctive under-appreciated talent.

[@Tanzotown]

I have been mesmerized by Kley since I discovered him when I was 19...60 years ago. His reprinted sketchbooks, bought then, and still referred to regularly have never lost, and have gained much of the original wonder they imparted to me as a just barely post adolescent.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for the comment. I can't remember when or where I first encountered his work, but he has been high on my list of personal favourites ever since.

[@secretshaman189]

My father worked for Disney as a writer, and he had one of Kley's books-- I remember looking at it as a child and totally absorbed with his line quality and imagination that was just out of this world!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. Kley is one of far too many talents who tend to be overlooked by many. If I've brought him to the attention of even a handful of new admirers then I haven't been wasting my time.

[@germaniatv1870]

Disney, up to 75% inspired by German art and folklore. :-)

[@secretshaman189]

@@germaniatv1870 Yes, he really loved Grimm's fairy tales for sure!

[@germaniatv1870]

@@secretshaman189 Yes. After the "equalization" (gleichschaltung) of US America under the Wilson administration, the USA has changed. They erased everything German and even re-used German folklore. To be number 1, US-America needed a "dominant" culture, it would ban "German" and re-create something new. Its just amazing how much Art was destroyed in ww1 & 2. Even the origin of the tales have been corrupted. So im glad to see US Americans who know what they are talking about :-) Thank you.

[@germaniatv1870]

@@petebeard Great job. :-)

[@skobywankenobi]

My favorite artist. I'm really glad I picked up all of his available sketchbooks in high quality when I could. They're a source of endless inspiration.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the appreciation. One of my enduring favourites too.

[@timothyhopkins6960]

Absolutely fabulous it is hard to believe a person could be so gifted . Thank you for putting his remarkable work together in this wonderful video .

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video.

[@cminor99]

I love Heinrich Kley's work. It is very sad that he never received the acclaim he deserved. Thank you for this series.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I absolutely agree. Kley should be virtually a household name.

[@A0A4ful]

Thank you, Pete! Kley is one of the best illustrators in the 20th century...!

[@sclogse1]

Hope Pete does Robert Riggs.

[@petebeard]

Hi, and Riggs is waiting patiently in line. Don't know when he'll feature yet though.

[@michaelmontcombroux3413]

Thanks for this, Pete. It is sad that talented artists like Heinrich Kley should fall on hard times when the prevailing mood or fashion changes.

[@petebeard]

Hello and yes it's somewhat depressing to realise how many of these talents were ignored in later life.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

I had not known of Kley. I particularly like his "industrial" paintings.. powerful. Thanks.

[@twistoffate4791]

Same here!! I don't usually warm up to industrial-themed art but in this case, I really liked & admired his particular style.

[@petebeard]

Hello, and much as I appreciate those paintings they can't compete with the wonderful absurdity of a croc dancing with a naked lady for me.

[@albertcscs]

@@petebeard It looks like the entire " Dance of the Hours" sequence of Fantasia was based on Kley characters.

[@CosmicSpectrumArt]

I love Heinrich Kley's work! Thank you so much for the excellent video.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.

[@vincentgoupil180]

*Thank you* very much for featuring Heinrich Kley. Brings back memories of the Dover books on him. And, at the same time Lurchi Salamander shoes booklets for kids *. :) 8:25 "Demons of Krupp" 1911 commissioned by Krupp Industries hung in their factory commissary. It was in response to the London Illustrated News article on the "Devils of Krupp ... " article. * ... and the German artist Adolph Menzel and Kathe Kollwitz. To think, another Adolph was making watercolour illustrations of German cities at the time.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks for the insights as usual. I recently came across those Salamander pictures, and hoped they might lead to at least an unsung instament. Sadly a bit of a dead end. On the other hand it's not as if I actually need any more subjects.There are already more than I'll probably live long enough to finish...

[@vincentgoupil180]

@@petebeard Hello Pete Hope creating Unsung Heros prolongs your longevity (mo' episodes for me and your growing viewers and subscribers) :) Mentioned Lurchi for the memories as a kid going to the German neighborhood Yorkville, Manhattan, for shoes then Cafe Geiger and the deli next door with its fennel-geek, walnut ambience. The booklet was to occupy children while their mothers picked out shoes for them. 8:25 Methinks Coronet magazine has a rather droll sense of humor. From their 1937 January issue 25, " Heinrich Kley ... the German artist who died in a madhouse a few years ago." oh, really 1:40 Kley's painting "Linieinschiff auf Gedeckter Helling der Germania Werft" featured in Jugend Issue 25, 1911, appears fresh enough to have been done in the 1950s. At first thought the ship's red front was a bulbous ram bow for plowing through the water. The ram bow was developed around 1911 which for a ocean liner would have been on the cutting edge. But then, could be the ship's stern. I know, I know, ram bow, Rambo ... I digress Klee, Kley The Heidelberg archive website digi ub uni-heidenburg de for those who might be interested has online issues of Jugend magazine and more. Thanks again, appreciate your showing Kley's work. The more one looks at it the more amazing it becomes.

[@justicecommander9455]

Definitely liking this new series going a little deeper with some illustrators and what way to start Heinrich Kley is so dynamic with his sketches specially when you now that he did it out of his imagination, and also the fact that he (unknowably) became a pillar for the animation industry.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and judging by the favourable comments it seems Kley was a pretty good choice to kick off these shorter solo videos.

[@doughaug]

You continue to find the most amazingly talented artists to feature. Thanks, Mr Beard

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot fr your appreciation. Still plenty more to be featured.

[@herbertbrant5738]

EXCELLENT choice! I first encountered Kley's work from Jugend, and I always admired his centaurs and satyrs. His fantasy illustrations have such a great classicism, don't you think?

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. And yes I absolutely agree with your appraisal of the quality of his work.

[@Amanita._.Verosa._.]

Thank you, Mr. Beard. Excellent video. Kley is one of my favorites.

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot. An enduring favourite of mine too.

[@misspsyy2383]

Even I'm feeling inspired just looking at these illustrations, amazing!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your comment. The work of many of these illustrators is truly inspirational.

[@misspsyy2383]

@@petebeard Already subscribed for your soothing narration, keep up the great work^^!

[@SarahAndBoston]

One of my favorite artists! Thank you for featuring him.

[@petebeard]

Mine too. And thanks again for your appreciation.

[@neillgj]

Wow !!! Another success, Mr Beard. The new profile format works so well. Thank you. To summarise Heinrich Kley's VAST output so fully and so well in 9 minutes is a true achievement. Well done.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks as usual for your appreciation.

[@aureliobrighton1871]

That little scene ... at the Hofbräuhaus in Munich .. is just so lovely in its detail . 'Prost Herr Heinrich' :)

[@Borella309]

Thanks so much Pete! Yet another amazing talent that we now know about!

[@petebeard]

Hello again and if i can make a few Kley converts with this video my work hasn't been in vain.

[@albertcscs]

Five stars, once again. I think this new single artist format is perfect, especially for some Unsungs who could certainly be upgraded. I am a big Kley fan, his work was prominently featured at many museums in the SF area, especially the industrial modernist paintings. His drawings were frequently at MOMA and the Comic art museum. I sense some of his influence in Mahlon Blaine's work too, and certainly Norman Lindsay.

[@petebeard]

Hi Albert and thanks. I hadn't made the Lindsay connection but now you've said it there are strong similarities. Can't see it with Blaine though, other than a keen interest in nudity...

[@Susie_Floozie]

I love Heinrich Kley's gloriously romping figurework. His style invokes El Greco, Frank Frazetta, and Charles Dana Gibson. You're right about his influence on FANTASIA--Preston Blair understood the dumpy litheness of Kley's alligators and large land mammals, and he translated it well. Thanks for showing me Kley's glorious industrial work, too. This is terrific stuff!

[@petebeard]

Hello again and I'm very glad you enjoyed it.

[@m.i.miller8008]

Thank you for this,., Kley is one of my most ultimate favourite artists of the 20th Century...A 2 hour video on this artist would still not be enough for me ....His work absolutely dazzles me and each time I look at his work I see something new... These podcasts are just wonderful...So grateful that you have taken the time to do these.. I cannot imagine the time and effort it was have taken to put these all together. Many many thanks!!

[@petebeard]

Hello, and I think the reason nobody seems to have made a longer format vdeo about him is that so little is known you would have to pad the narrative quite spectacularly. Mind you, it wouldn't be the first time some 'critic' did that... Thanks a lot for watching the channel.

[@alphaomega6684]

What amazing, enviable line work! Thank you for educating me about Mr Kley.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad to have introduced you to his work.

[@lynxx7515]

Thank you so much for this new series. You have opened a new world for most of us.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for the appreciative comment.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

Wow what a great artist I never heard of before. Thanks Mr. Beard.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad to have introduced you to this neglected genius.

[@projektor4]

Hi Pete, an extaordinarily good video as usual. I recognised the illustration @ 2:43, it´s used (with sleeve credit) on the album cover of The Norman Haines Band´s 1971 Hard/Progressive Rock LP, "Den Of Iniquity". Cheers Keith.

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot, and it's good to know that some bands at least give credit where it's due. Never heard of tgis band so I must check them out.

[@jimjam7764]

This video was randomly selected for me by youtube! I was aware of this style of illustration but not of the artists. That was wonderful video , compressing so much material and information. The contrast between the harsh masculinity of the industrial art (which I would buy in an eyeblink!) and the detail and lightness of touch in the fantastical drawings of nymphs and hybrid animals is the work of both an artistic and intellectual master.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. I hope you'll find more on the channel that is of interest to you too.

[@ErgoBoom]

I take my hat off to you Mr Beard. This is a wonderful channel, I frequently feel inspired after watching new episodes.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of the channel. It's great to know.

[@NickFromDetroit]

I was introduced to Kley’s work last year by Proko’s look through one of those sketchbook publications shown in this video. Strange stuff.

[@petebeard]

Hello and it certainly is strange - but very funny I think, and so well drawn.

[@NickFromDetroit]

pete beard, Yes, some I like very much. Others, not so much. I was surprised he was doing such strange things as early as he was. Your series has really been an education in early magazine illustrations and the artists who created them. A whole world I never knew about. Thank you, Mr. Beard. You have cost me some money, buying books on Leyendecker, Rackham, and St. John. Thanks, again.

[@petebeard]

@@NickFromDetroit Hello and despite the expense I'll bet you think it was worth it. I'm just glad there are good books available on these great illustrators.

[@NickFromDetroit]

pete beard, Yes, they are definitely worth it. I’m also glad there are such a variety of well printed books. Can’t wait to see your next video. I’m still trying to catch up to the current ones.

[@doitatit]

Such beautiful line work! Thank you. Another brilliant human forgotten once more. The hippos straight way reminded me of Disney, and there it was! Fantasias! Once more Peter, thank’s for helping become more aware of these great people.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks for your appreciation. Kley is undeservedly overlooked by many unfortunately.

[@nilo70]

Thank you for making this . I had no idea of this Artist’s work before , but they are Wonderful !

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm very pleased to have introduced you to his remarkable work.

[@Pencil0fDoom]

One of my all time favorite illustrators. Well done Pete.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. It's appreciated.

[@416dl]

One of my all-time favorites. I remember how I cherished every opportunity as a young child to see his occasional pen and ink drawing which I loved for what seemed so naughty and delicious. I appreciate your bringing them back to my mind and for introducing to me his other works, the industrial paintings in particular, which I had not seen and which serve to underscore his remarkable talent. Cheers.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video.

[@holzuwe8260]

Thank you Mr. Beard for another episode broadening my knowledge about illustration !

[@petebeard]

Hello and you are more than welcome.

[@sclogse1]

Big fan. I have his early German releases. Wonderful large scale books around the size of a Life magazine. Keep your paws off 'em. Note, at 5:39, the fellow on the left looks exactly like Mark Margolis, who played Hector in Breaking Bad.

[@neodutch]

So it does.

[@GalootWrangler]

Now we know what he’s been summoning with that bell. Shame on his helpers for their lack of comprehension.

[@simonward-horner7605]

Beloved by animators. He would have been perfect for animation too, but as you mentioned, he was an inspiration to the designers and animators of the 'Dance of the Hours' section in Fantasia. Another excellent post, Pete.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and I'm particularly glad that as an animator you saw and appreciated this video. So many of the drawings look like key frames before clean-up.

[@shancre]

I love your videos. Its like visiting a museum gallery without leaving home.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. If only more of this work was in galleries and museums I wouldnt need to make the videos. Illustration is always the underdog.

[@magenta6]

Good monograph and thanks for making it. Had never heard of Kley before but was immediately impressed by his penmanship and similarity to Arthur Rackham!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for the comment, and I'm pleased to have introduced you to Kley's work. You may have seen it but there's a Rackham video on the channel too, if you're interested.

[@Banner_Bearer_of_Eternity]

Thank you Pete! Never seen this artist's works.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm very pleased to have introduced you to his remarkable drawings.

[@garygrinkevich6971]

Learning about artists who lived and died in obscurity who inspired greater things has been a small comfort in my own very difficult and meager career.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. I hope your own work is currently doing OK in this more than usually hostile environment.

[@frasermay7825]

First heard of him back in the 1960s, when I was an art student, bought the two available sketchbooks. Still have them.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I can't for the life of me remember when or how I discovered his work but it seems likely it was when I was at art school too.

[@larenardshop2580]

A lovely show Pete, bless you. I have to say though, I worked as a pro illustrator for The Scotsman Newspaper's Scotland on Sunday for several years, and so often the deadlines were so tight that freeform sketches were outlined then faxed in, the Editor would often choose the elements he liked from several sketches and the finished work was eventually drawn up to standard. You are correct in stating that the prelim's are so often a casual flick of the pen and can be lost in the final, this was mostly because freelancers were paid on publication and in a need to put bread upon the table & a requirement to be accurate, our best pro friend was the "lightbox" for location lines. I can see evidence of Heinrich's need to do the same. I once made a mistake and was called into the offices to correct it. Andrew Neil growled at me as I finished the correction. He was the first and onLy Editor that I wanted to kick in the arse as he walked away! LOL!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation, and observations about the fairground ride that is a career in illustration. One of the funniest jokes I ever saw was in Punch and it showed Michelangelo with a cardinal looking up at the completed Sistine Chapel ceiling. The cardinal says "Frankly, Mike, I preferred the visual..." Collapse of stout party.

[@damogranheart5521]

Wow! When I saw the elephants and then the monkeys Disney did come to mind. His drawings on the human form are beautiful. His rendering of mythical beasts fantastic! Really too bad that the plates were destroyed along with the printing company! I have always admired pen and ink drawings. Thank you for this interesting and beautifully done video! 🦋🐈‍⬛

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks for the comment. I read somewhere that the other major influence on Disney's animals was T. S. Sullivant. If you're unfamiliar I recommend (I would wouldn't I?) unsung heroes 28.

[@damogranheart5521]

@@petebeard Thank you very much! 🦋

[@clemenciarodner2339]

Thanks for these marvelous videos, Mr Beard. I have learned so much! They are a pleasure to see and hear.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of my work on the channel.

[@osoimpopular]

Hello! I just want to say that your channel is the best thing I watched this year. You made me meet extraordinary artists and I thank you for that. Greetings from Argentina.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your flattering comment. It's appreciated.

[@jorgeroaro]

This is really amazing. Now I know where all these ballet-dancing hippos, elephants, and crocodiles in Fantasia (1940) came from. From the first images of the dancing crocodiles in the video I thought about the extraordinary similarity with those that appear in the film, long before reaching the final part of the video where it is mentioned that Disney really knew and admired Kley's work, and that indeed it was his inspiration for the design of these characters. I knew nothing of this, which is remarkable, because being a great fan of Fantasia, I have read three books and several articles on its production and development, and none mentioned the relationship to Klein's work, despite being something so obvious when you see his drawings. I am very pleased that, at least in this video, the contribution and talent of such an extraordinary artist is recognized. Is there anywhere today where Kley's original work can be admired? Thank you so much for showing me the work of this very talented artist.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm very glad that you found the video informative and hopefully entertaining. I understand there are some Kley drawings at the Disney museum, but whether they are originals or prints I don't know. Apart from that i don't know of a single place where his work can be found. I suspect much of it has been destroyed. There are two books available online by J Procopio but obviously that's just reprints. Better than nothing though.

[@jorgeroaro]

@@petebeard Thank you very much for your reply. Of course, I found the video very entertaining and enjoyable, as well as educational. Certainly I already knew some of Heinrich Kley's work, but very incompletely. This video has helped me fill in the gaps. I have several books on Symbolist art, and German art from between the wars has quite a prominent role in them, especially what is known as “diabolical fantasy”, like that of some magazines that appeared during the Weimar Republic, such as Der Orchideengarten, a dark fantasy magazine that appeared in 1919, just at the beginning of the terrible postwar period for Germany. Kley worked for this magazine, and therefore I had seen several of his works in these books on German symbolism. However, all of these works belong to the “diabolical fantasy” genre, with an abundance of skeletons, witches, demons, allegories of love and death, and in general, a taste for the macabre. But I had not seen what is shown in this video, that is, its openly humorous and witty side, with its charming and fanciful animal fables, mixed with cute and playful naked nymphs (in his sinister works, Kley also had an abundance of animals and nude women, but with a more gothic imagination, without the charm of the lighter images seen here). And, from what I understand, this playful facet is finally the most representative of his art, right? Unfortunately, I also believe that most of Kley's originals must have been destroyed in the war. What a pity! Anyway, thanks again for the great video.

[@petebeard]

@@jorgeroaro Hello again and by the sound of it you haven;t seen my video about Der Orchideengarten. And if this is the kind of thing you're into you might want to try the Andreas Paul Weber and Jugend videos too.

[@jorgeroaro]

@@petebeard No, I haven't. I'm new to your channel, although I subscribed right away. Thanks for letting me know about these videos, which I will look for immediately.

[@marilyn1228]

Such wonderful work, I love the humour mixing human and animal characters and pen and ink is one of my favourite techniques. Thank you for this!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot. When I taught illustration the first assignment I gave to the students was to work in pen and ink only. Very few had ever done so before, which I found rather depressing.

[@damogranheart5521]

@@petebeard We did have calligraphy in high school but as for pen and ink drawing I was on my own and I floundered badly! That was very disappointing!

[@johncollado1151]

Hi Pete... thanks for another informative video. I enjoyed this artist very much, the talent to illustrate animals and people are amazing. Can you imagine what these artists would have done in our digital age?

[@petebeard]

Hello John, and thanks for the positive comment. I get the feeling Kley would not have gone anywhere near a computer - in his case what would be the advantage? And you can't sell the original...

[@johntravena119]

Thanks for making this video. His rendering is & his compositions are top drawer. I’d never seen his work before!

[@petebeard]

Hello and it's a particularly good feeling to know I've introduced viewers to talents such as Kley's for the first time.

[@vincentgoupil180]

For general interest: The German Wiki page on Heinrich Kley, de zxc wiki, has additional information with links on Kley than the American page. (Has the correct day of passing.) Read mostly good reviews of Joseph V. Procopio's books "The Lost Art of Henrich Kley", Vol. 1 & 2, with essays by Alexander Kunkel and Jesse Hamm. A few reviews mentioned the paper quality but the book contains as of then new images and researched info. Kley in addition to illustrating for Jugend and Simplicissmus also illustrated for Der Orchideengarten. See Pete's presentation of that periodical. So, in addition to Kley's amazing varied talents he also did science fiction and children's books. Probably on which he also got ripped-off on by ... you know. Illustration Magazine #39 has an article on Kley but gonna buy the issue.

[@peterclark6290]

Any encyclopedia of illustrated art would run into many volumes, including the yearbook additions. What a treasure that would be.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm not sure what your comment is in reference to but no matter - I agree wholeheartedly anyway. An impossible task though...

[@peterclark6290]

@@petebeard A team effort with an ambitious publishing house (with good lawyers) might pull it off. No matter, just a thought bubble. Cheers

[@dbensdrawinvids8390]

Another fantastic upload, and I'm not at all sorry to see Kley get more appreciation. Thank you!

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@melindedemmers264]

Thanks for sharing the history and work of another gifted artist 👍🏼😊.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm very grateful for your appreciation.

[@melizen2]

Thank you, Pete Beard, for introducing me to an artist I hadn't known about/noticed - I especially appreciated the industrial paintings/drawings, and those with creatures - a proto-steampunk imagination, perhaps? And for some reason the crocodiles or alligators with their naked lovelies tickled my fancy - how much fun! The Disney connection is interesting and oh so commercial - I hope it was worth a bit to a man who saw his fortunes go up and down ~ as always I enjoy your music-in-the-background ~

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks fr the comment. And sad to report Kley got neither a credit or any payment for his unwitting contribution.

[@brunonorte2004]

Thank you so much for showing us this artist. I didn't know him. I thought his work very impressive!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. It seems quite a lot of others (and me) agree with you.

[@myu4039]

Love this one! Thanks for the intro to this artist...

[@petebeard]

Hello again and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@giuseppe1388]

Great! Kley is one of my favourite draftsman and the video is superb

[@petebeard]

Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@raulraphael7404]

The free and flowing quality of his line influenced me as a young artist at the age of 19, and still does today at the age of 70.

[@petebeard]

Hello and that completely mirrors my own experience with his work. If only more of his influence had rubbed off on me...

[@garyprice6504]

Brilliant insight, yet again Pete. I much prefer the artwork of illustrators over painters. The dynamics of line work fuels the imagination in a way that stirs the soul. One single potent illustration can inspire you throughout your life. There is a great interplay in how illustrators perceived the new world of mechanical speed…

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your comment, and naturally enough I totally agree with the sentiments expressed.

[@Onthegoart7790]

It all comes back to Disney, such beautiful work! Great video!

[@petebeard]

Hello again. I thought I had replied to yout comment but youyubr doesn't agree. So belatedly thanks a lot for your comment and I'm pleased you continue to find the channel rewarding.

[@charvaka9526]

Wow, I had completely forgotten about Kley until now 55 + years later. I had a book of his images when I was a teenager. Wow again.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad to have jogged your memory.

[@charvaka9526]

@@petebeard yeah, thanks.

[@mitchtaylor177]

Fantastisch! Thank you for keeping alive such an inspirational man and his works. I am always fascinated by everything that has come from Germany as most of that art in any medium is usually not celebrated. To be honest I only just heard of him thanks to you. In addition as a first time viewer I must say it is highly likely that he inspired more people than just Walt Disney. Dr. Seuss no doubt took much from him after seeing such whimsical illustrations. I hope I'm not alone in enjoying the 'odder' side of art. I love these fantasy and fun pieces; especially from the past! Well done.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for the appreciation. And the evidence suggests that strange fantasy is one of the more popular strands on the channel. More of a similar nature are on the way.

[@mitchtaylor177]

@@petebeard Thank you! Ill be heading off to that Art Deco Illustrations next. I also have a soft spot for the black and white era of movies, style and those old but future looking photographs of Zepplins over big cities. Very Metropolis and probably explains why I like Syd Mead and Blade Runner-esque visions. Loving your work thus far. Prost!

[@arian7339]

Thank you for new video. I guess we had a part in unsung illustrators about him, but I did pretty much enjoyed the new video.

[@petebeard]

Hello and yes there's a growing list of solo features who have already appeared in the unsung series. At that stage I still hadn't thought of doing any solo features.

[@saundrasaumay9767]

Thank you for this video. Kley was so talented!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.

[@davidlittle7418]

Excellent work on an excellent artist, thank you!

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot for your appreciation.

[@larindanomikos]

One of my husband's favorite artists. He died long ago and it's been a long time since I have heard someone mention this artist.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation.

[@davidsparks6146]

I actually knew about him from his Disney connection... I attended CalArts (Disney's animation school) where we had a vast library of books and illustrators. Great video as always.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks for the comment. And although I'd heard of CalArts I didn't know it was connected to Disney. Makes sense.

[@twistoffate4791]

Thank you for another wonderful adventure!! Usually drawings of animals are my favorite images, but to my surprise I learned that I really liked his industrial images. Just something about them I found appealing, and that's not like me, lol. Am greatly looking forward to what comes next out of the Pete Beard hopper!! Cheers!!!

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks as ever for the appreciation. I've already got a few lined up to follow this one.

[@ProdByGhost]

HEinrich kley and frank frazetta is the reason i started learning to draw...... last year in march i took shrooms and randomly on youtube came across the video " the man who inspired disney" wich was showing heinrich kleys sketches and i have never seen anything so magical ( i was peak of my trip on shrooms) and then comin across frank frazetta art especially looked like his stuff was coming off the canvas my jaw was just to the ground looking at these stuff.. next day orderd supplies and im still learning to draw and paint now !

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks fir the comment. Despite Frazetta's painte work having little in common with Kley, his ink sketches are remarkablysimilat and energetic.

[@iangillham9647]

Wow terrific stuff, seen a couple (only a couple) of these images before but never knew who did them. Thank you again!

[@petebeard]

Hello and glad to have brought his work to your attention.

[@iangillham9647]

@@petebeard I’m pretty sure one of his illustrations was used as an album cover (two years either side) 1970…

[@petebeard]

@@iangillham9647 Hello again and it's highly likely that he would have been put to such a use - but nothing came up on my searches for his work.

[@iangillham9647]

@@petebeard yes I had a quick look, but I’m sure as eggs is eggs…I’ll comment here if I find it.

[@KJensenStudio]

Well, it seems I have a new favorite illustrator, thank you! ❤️

[@petebeard]

Hello and that's good to know. He is surely one of the greats.

[@jellyartist]

Nice one, Pete. I wondered when Disney would get a mention. Those skating elephants are very reminiscent of scenes from Dumbo, particularly in the Pink elephants on parade pastiche.

[@petebeard]

Hello again, and I tgink you can detect Kley;s influence in many Disney productions, and even places you wouldn;t expect, such as Frazetta's ink drawings. If you havent already, you might appreciate T.S. Sullivant in unsung heroes 28.

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

thanks so much for posting this video - the art is wonderful.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@edwinharrison5992]

I love these so many artists i never heard of or saw thier work and as a struggling cartoonist myself (struggling to sell ) its inspirational

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot for your comment, and Im glad you find some of the subjects on the channel inspiring.

[@Mountlougallops]

Thanks Pete. This will be an interesting series. Excellent first choice.

[@petebeard]

Hello again, and Kley sets the bar pretty high, but I'm faily confident there will be more in this series that are of possibly equal interest.

[@yohenson]

thanks so much. i think kley knew he was good. his sketches/drawings are filled with life and joy and emotion. to live at these times until 83 would be a success in my book. but yes recognition wasnt there much.

[@petebeard]

Hello, and I;m pleased that there now seems to be growing interest in, and appreciaton of Kley;s drawings. Thanks for the comments.

[@farmerfox3332]

Perfect timing. Thank you

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks fr the appreciation.

[@avv397]

Many thanks for a fascinating, intelligent insight into this extraordinary artist with his huge ability to "normalise" fantasy. Wonderful

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment.

[@lapislazarus8899]

A friend's mom studied music at Karlsruhe Academy. She's an opera singer that has performed all through Italy and in Vienna, and in Turkey. She has basically a PhD in music, she's retired from performing and is a voice teacher now.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. I had just assumed it was specificaly an art school but obviously not.

[@geor664]

This is so valuable to bring recognition to such a talented illustrator. The Industrial illustrations are worthy of putting together a book just on them selves alone. As we move forward in time these visual references record the beginnings of the first industrial revolution. Do you have more of the Industrial Scenes? Combining those with old photos of industrial workshops would make a great topic. Thank you for putting this together.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation. Sadly all I could find of the paintings I used in the video.

[@anishpicklodia3337]

Wow look at those lines.. the force and balance in the actions.. those expressions.. amazing.. I am a fan of this great artist

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your appreciation of Kley's remarkable work.

[@picksalot1]

I don't know if I've ever seen his art before. It is so imaginative and creative, just what appeals to my sensibilities. I love the spontaneity his drawings embody. He was clearly a master of perspective and shading.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. At the risk of shamelessly plugging the channel, if you like Kley you might also like T.S. Sullivant, who appears in unsung heroes 28.

[@picksalot1]

@@petebeard No shame in plugging your Channel. It is excellent, and I thoroughly enjoy your videos. I'll definitely check out your recommendation. Thanks

[@TheKevphil]

I recall fondly the dancing hippo adaptation being featured in one of the Harold Foster oversized animation books by Preston Blair, purchased waaay back in my college days. Interesting artist bio, Pete.

[@petebeard]

Hi again, and I had the Preston Blair book too. Long gone now of course.

[@mmarkrel6383]

My favourite illustrator , hes the best. tx for the video

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the comment.

[@ej5155]

I wonder if Frazetta spent time looking at Kley's work. I see a lot of similarity in the line work and blocking.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I think you have a point. Frazetta's sketches reveal a close relationship to Kley's energetic style.

[@TheSphat]

I remember some of that drawings from my childhood! Thanks!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the positive comment.

[@BB1951]

This is amazing. Never heard of him. I'm a humble anthro-artist.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm pleased to have introduced you to his marvellous work.

[@ivancamilli8884]

Great summery about one of my favorite artist. Thank you Pete. Just a note; The Aeneid, Latin (Roman) epic poem, not Greek, written by the Roman poet Virgil.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the apprciation. Sorry for the error.

[@nicolascalderoli711]

Gran vídeo.Y gran trabajo de investigación. Gracias por compartirlo. Saludos...

[@petebeard]

Hola y muchas gracias por su agradecimiento.

[@ebrahimfaiz8522]

WOW! the surface, the pen, and the imagination. every soul wishes to go where Kley has visited.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your comment.

[@therealzilch]

Wow, how can it be that I'd never heard of Heinrich Kley before? What an imagination. Thanks for another well-done profile. Cheers from sunny Vienna, Scott

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks for the comment. I'm glad I've introduced you to his world of marvels.

[@tengkusulaiman]

I think, most of 1970s animation look like this, like I used to watch when I was a kid.

[@adrianmartinez2990]

wow.I had never seen or heard of this artist. What a great talent.

[@petebeard]

I'm very pleased you are impressed by his work. Thanks for the comment.

[@Bethelaine1]

Thank you for sharing this.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@jasonallen1532]

Excellent information, thank you.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.

[@evertvandenberghe]

Another great one! Tnx a lot for your work that boosts my knowledge and imagination :)

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. It's greatly appreciated.

[@sidilicious11]

So glad this came up in KZbin suggestions. When I was in college in the 1970’s a friend lent me a book of his illustrations. I had to return it and have missed it ever since. I wonder if there’s any way to find a good book of his art now.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the appreciation. You're in luck -there are two volumes titled The Lost Art of Heinrich Kley by J. Procopio. As far as I know they are both available online.

[@sidilicious11]

@@petebeard terrific, thanks!

[@Mr.ABartley]

Wonderful. Thank you.