This is my Caldecott Illustration Analysis over the book Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans.

1. CALDECOTT
ILLUSTRATION
ANALYSIS
C A I L Y N K E S S L E R

2. B A S I C
I NF ORMAT I ON
Title: Madeline’s
Rescue
Author: Ludwig
Bemelmans
Publisher: The
Penguin
Group
Award/Year:
Caldecott
Medal/1954

3. STYLE AND MEDIA
Impressionism – The brush strokes
that are used are visible which
allows for the reader to sense the
feeling of motion.
Naïve Cartoon Art
– a simple style
that allows the
illustrator to use a
technique of
choice that is not
learned but it
simply what they
do.

4. STYLE AND MEDIA CONT.
Ludwig Bemelmans did not consider himself an artist. He used
ink, watercolor, and bold marks in his art. These simple
techniques that are used were concepts that he taught himself
how to do. The use of these techniques allows for the reader to
focus more on the character and less on the background.

5. LINE
Diagonal – depicts motion
and chaos.
Horizontal – shows the
idea of stability.
Vertical – displays
static.

6. LINE CONT.
-Each picture shown contains the characteristics of either diagonal, horizontal, or vertical lines.
Diagonal lines represent motion and chaos that can be seen as Madeline is falling from the bridge.
Horizontal lines show stability which is depicted in the picture of Miss Clavel sending the girls to bed.
Vertical lines display the concept of static of hardly any movement which is shown in the picture of
the girls and Miss Clavel crying.
-The lines that are used in these illustrations allow for the reader to be directed to the main focal
point of the picture. The thick lines allow for a true definition of what is to be featured. It highlights
the viewpoint of the character in which the main focus is placed at this particular point of the story.

7. SHAPE
The illustrator uses simple shapes that are supple
(free flowing and flexible) to create his
masterpiece. The shapes allow for the viewer to
understand movement taking place in the
picture. Size does not play much of an
importance as the coloring/shading of the
objects that are to be the focal point. The shapes
allow for a simple look so that it does not distract
from the main characters of the story.

8. COLOR
The hue of the illustration contains very dark
and sad colors. The focus with this illustration
creating a depressing mood for the reader. In
the story, they are looking for their dog that ran
away but are displaying no luck in finding her.
Colors of blue, black, and gray are used to
represent this feeling. The color has a low value
because of the dull feel of the illustration. The
saturation of the image is very low because it
does not display a very bright and prominent
color. This illustration is an example of the art
being achromatic because the colors are close
to being neutral because of its lack of saturation.

9. TEXTURE
The illustrations in this text in which Ludwig
Bemelmans used watercolor display a dry brush
technique. Here it gives the picture a scratchy look
when the brush is mostly dry. It is comprised
amongst a 2D painting. Layers are displayed with
scratchy brush marks in order to demonstrate the
sadness and confusion in which the main
character is feeling.

10. COMPOSITION
In the illustration on the left, the illustration has a balance in which everything is at the
same level of importance. The illustration on the right contains a balance that places an
effect on the buildings and parts of the city that they are walking past in order for the
reader/viewer to place an emphasis on the chaos and movement of the search for the
dog. There is a less emphasis placed on the background with vibrant colors in order for
the characters and setting to have a high importance. The pictures have a white space
surrounding them in order to give the pictures the feel of being like a photograph
instead of just a painting. This type of composition allows for the text to remain simple
and helps the reader synthesis what the author is portraying.