John Groth

John Groth
Also signed his work John August Groth
American illustrator, editor, teacher, combat artist and correspondent
1908-1988

The illustrative style Groth uses for this 1963 adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol, was developed during his time as a combat artist. The speed line gives it spontaneity, especially when augmented with the watercolor wash. Groth was the art editor for Esquire Magazine in the 1930s, worked for The Chicago Sun as a correspondent during World War II. In all he was an artist in five wars. He was a teacher who advised his students to "carry their sketchbooks everywhere."

These illustrations are from The Macmillan Classics series, and are scanned from the first edition, ©1963.

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