Fire in Art and Storytelling - SLAP HAPPY LARRY

Effulgent: (literary) shining brightly; radiant

Lambent: (literary) (of light or fire) glowing, gleaming, or flickering with a soft radiance.

Lucent: (literary) glowing with or giving off light.

Refulgent: (literary) shining very brightly

CAMPFIRE

My life has been told to me through camprfire tales — stories that spill over when the fire has burned low and silence must be filled. They’re like old coats hauled from the back of the cupboard. Dusted off, aired out, good as new. My mother, Vivienne, doled them out as reward or consolation, depending on her mood. And so I came to know myself — through the telling and retelling.
Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield, Australian author

Tall tales are a storytelling tradition that extends far back into human history. In our imaginations, tall tales happen around the camp fire.

Evgenii Rachev (1906 - 1997) 1960 illustration for Russian Folk Tales campfire — Evgenii Rachev (1906 – 1997) 1960 illustration for Russian Folk Tales.

Khasui Kawase (1883 - 1957) — Khasui Kawase (1883 – 1957)

Paul Zelinsky - Swamp Angel Anne Isaacs fire — Paul Zelinsky – Swamp Angel Anne Isaacs

postcard from Finland, illustrated by Rolf Lidberg in the 1970s

Jenny Eugenia Nystrom (1854-1946) ~ Swedish painter and illustrator who created numerous Christmas cards and magazine covers

Smoking Animals, Theodor de Bry, after Johann Theodor de Bry, 1591 fire

Leonid Zolotarev - The Snow Queen fire — *Leonid Zolotarev – The Snow Queen*

Top-Notch v016 n05 [1914-05-20] campfire — Top-Notch v016 n05 [1914-05-20]

PRIJDTE K NAM, MUZIKANTI (1960) Jiri Trnka camp fire

from How To Make Friends With A Ghost by Rebecca Green

Edward Gorey, for an adaptation of ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ by Edith Tarcov

HEARTH

For more on the significance and symbolism of the home hearth, see this post.

Another one from Louis Wain, Cats by the Fire. I’m pretty sure the black cat started a conflagration.

BURN OFFS

A PRAIRIE BOY'S SUMMER (1975) William Kurelek fire — A PRAIRIE BOY’S SUMMER (1975) William Kurelek

by Edna Eicke (1919-1979) — Edna Eicke (1919-1979)

CONFLAGRATION

Fire in the Admiralty line jobs, 1673, Romeyn de Hooghe (attributed to), after Jan van der Heyden, 1690 – 1735

Cover by Achille Beltrame 1906 fire — Cover by Achille Beltrame 1906

The Great Sea Horse 1909 by Isabel Anderson fire — The Great Sea Horse 1909 by Isabel Anderson

N. Zeitlin - Tales of the Brothers Grimm Three Lucky Ones fire — N. Zeitlin – Tales of the Brothers Grimm Three Lucky Ones

'Stampede' This unusual Western painting was salvaged from the Coney Island House of Horrors, c. 1935 artist unknown, fire — ‘Stampede’ This Western painting was salvaged from the Coney Island House of Horrors, c. 1935 artist unknown, fire

John Atkinson Grimshaw, In Peril, 1879 fire — John Atkinson Grimshaw, In Peril, 1879

Illustration by Ed Emberley in 'Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home' written by Judy Hawes. First published 1967, this reprint in Butler and Tanner, 1970 2 — Illustration by Ed Emberley in ‘Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home’ written by Judy Hawes. First published 1967, this reprint in Butler and Tanner, 1970

Huckle's Mum sets the house on fire while ironing Daddy's shirt, Richard Scarry — Huckle’s Mum sets the house on fire while ironing Daddy’s shirt, Richard Scarry

Anastasia Arkhipova - The Steadfast Tin Soldier fire — Anastasia Arkhipova – The Steadfast Tin Soldier

By Kay Nielsen (1886-1957) 'The Lovers Perish in the Fire' f. Arabian Nights, 1917 — By Kay Nielsen (1886-1957) ‘The Lovers Perish in the Fire’ f. Arabian Nights, 1917

BONFIRE

A bonfire is a big campfire, right? Except it’s not just for warmth but for fun and celebration and to raise the emotional charge of a celebration.

‘Bonfire Night’ (1951) John Bull magazine by Ronald Lampitt

Tom Adams (1926 - 2019) 1973 book cover illustration for 'Destination Unknown' by Agatha Christie — Tom Adams (1926 – 2019) 1973 book cover illustration for ‘Destination Unknown’ by Agatha Christie

CORPSE BURNING

A woman jumps on the stake of her dead husband, 1597, anonymous, after Johannes of Lucas van Doetechum, 1646.

HELL FIRE

Devil stokes the fire in France and Holland, 1830, William Heath, 1830

1909 Frank Pape, for Anatole France's Penguin Island fire — 1909 Frank Pape, for Anatole France’s Penguin Island

FIRE AS LIGHTING

Lennart Helje (1940) cat gnome mouse — Lennart Helje (1940)

Charles Santore, William the Curious: Knight of the Water Lilies

WHAT EVEN IS THIS

Edward Gorey fire tea — Edward Gorey, probably a big bowl of **wassail** lit on fire. It might be **a game of Snap-dragon**.

Nineteenth Century German Tales illustrated by Edward Gorey 1959 fire — Nineteenth Century German Tales illustrated by Edward Gorey 1959

European Expressionist painter Marianne von Werefkin, Police Post, Wilna, 1914

De Coulanges, 1928-Christmas Fontanet (1898-1982) fire — De Coulanges, 1928-Christmas Fontanet (1898-1982)

Fire can be a powerful and sometimes all consuming force. Helpful and dangerous in equal measure, the ability to use fire sets man apart from the animals. It should not be too surprising then that fire features heavily in our folklore and traditions.
The Folklore Podcast