Rackham created his own technique which resembled photographic reproduction and is considered as a leading illustrator from the Golden Age of British book illustration, being 1900 to 1914. An example of one of his illustrations is Das Rheingold which depicts Fasolt and Father seizing Freia.
He was born in London in the town of Lewisham. He was born in 1867 and lived to be 72.
He was well known for: Illustration
Arthur Rackham is widely regarded as one of the leading illustrators from the Golden Age of British book illustration which roughly encompassed the years from 1890 until the end of the First World War. During that period, there was a strong market for high quality illustrated books which typically were given as Christmas gifts. Many of Rackhams books were produced in a de luxe limited edition, often vellum bound and usually signed, as well as a smaller, less ornately bound quarto trade edition. This was sometimes followed by a more modestly presented octavo edition in subsequent years for particularly popular books. The onset of the war in 1914 curtailed the market for such quality books, and the publics taste for fantasy and fairies also declined in the 1920s.
Arthur Rackhams works have become very popular since his death, both in North America and Britain. His images have been widely used by the greeting card industry and many of his books are still in print or have been recently available in both paperback and hardback editions. His original drawings and paintings are keenly sought at the major international art auction houses.