"Orestes or the Art of Smiling" 1961 Gnoli, Domenico

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GNOLI, Domenico

[70] pp.

Collins

1961

13 1/4" x 10 1/4"

"Orestes or The Art of Smiling" (1961) is an … Read more GNOLI, Domenico

[70] pp.

Collins

1961

13 1/4" x 10 1/4"

"Orestes or The Art of Smiling" (1961) is an oversized, surrealist children's book written and lavishly illustrated by the Italian artist Domenico Gnoli. It tells the satirical story of Prince Orestes, who bans all laughter and smiles from his kingdom by royal decree, only to face the unexpected consequences of a completely expressionless society.

Author & Illustrator: Domenico Gnoli (1933–1970). Gnoli was celebrated not just for his children's books, but also as a theater designer and a prominent painter known for hyper-realistic closeups of textures and everyday objects.

Plot: The whimsical and mildly cynical fairy tale follows Prince Orestes of Terramafiusa, a kingdom plagued by uncontrollable laughter. To restore peace and order, he outlaws the smile. The story tracks the bizarre and comedic fallout of this law.

Publishing History: The first English-language edition was published in 1961 by Simon and Schuster in New York and Collins in London.

Art Style: The book is highly regarded for Gnoli’s eccentric, oversized illustrations—featuring 23 full-page plates (many in color) and numerous in-text drawings—which lay the groundwork for the surrealist fine art he became famous for later in the 1960s. See less