“Donkey-donkey, Petunia, and Other Pals: Drawings by Roger Duvoisin” will be on view at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University through June 2016. Duvoisin’s remarkable children’s book illustrations have charmed and captivated generations of young readers.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1904, Roger Duvoisin came to the United States in the mid-1920s to work as a textile designer. In 1932, he created A Little Boy Was Drawing, his first children’s book, which he wrote and illustrated for his son. Duvoisin eventually became a popular illustrator for more than 140 children’s books, 40 of which he authored. Until his death in 1980, Duvoisin resided in New Jersey.

In addition to A Little Boy Was Drawing, the exhibition features illustrations for Donkey-donkey: The Troubles of a Silly Little Donkey (1933); White Snow, Bright Snow (1947); Petunia (1950); A for the Ark (1952); Nubber Bear (1966); The Old Bullfrog (1968); The Web in the Grass (1972); The Crocodile in the Tree (1972); Snowy and Woody (1979); and The Happy Lioness (1980). 

The almost 40 drawings in this display were selected from the more than 2,000 Duvoisin works in the Zimmerli’s extensive collection of American prints and drawings.

To learn more, visit http://www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu.

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