Mark Fernand Severin (5 January 1906 at Ixelles, Belgium – 10 September 1987 at Uccle, Belgium) was a Belgian artist and graphic designer who lived in England for most of his life.

Described as one of the most outstanding engravers of his generation,[1]

Early life and education

Mark Severin was born on 5 January 1906 in Brussels, Belgium. His father was Fernand Severin (1876–1931), a poet. He moved to England during World War I and studied at Oxford. He finished his education at Ghent University in Belgium, studying philosophy, art, and archeology.[2] In 1922, while still a university student, Severin began drawing for several German magazines. In 1930, he joined the Belgian Society of Maritime Artists.[3]

In 1935, Severin married Nina Holme, a children's book illustrator, daughter of Charles Holme, founding editor of The Studio, an illustrated fine arts and decorative arts magazine.[4]

Career

Severin served as Art Director of the London advertising agency, C.R. Casson, from 1931 until 1939, at which time he moved back to Belgium for the duration of World War II. In 1944, he returned to England for four years before finally settling in Belgium. In 1948, Severin became a university professor of wood engraving and typography in Antwerp.[5]

Severin specialized in fine miniature work. Over the course of his career, he made close to five hundred bookplates (many of which have erotic themes), illustrated over 30 books, and designed postage stamps for Belgium and Belgian colonies in Africa.[5] He was also active as an advertisement designer in Great Britain, creating posters and campaigns for Imperial Airways, London Underground, Shell, Whitbread, and Imperial Chemical Industries.[2]

Though largely self-taught, Severin received art instruction from the engravers Eric Gill, John Buckland-Wright and Eric Ravillious.[2]

A catalogue raisonné of Severin's works was published in 1993.

Published works

  • Making a Bookplate (How to do it series) London: The Studio Publications, 1949
  • Your Wood Engraving London: Sylvan Press, 1953

Joint authorship

  • Mark Severin and Anthony Reid Engraved Bookplates, European Exlibris 1950-70 Pinner: Private Libraries Association, 1972

His work illustrating others' books

  • Thomas & The Sparrow by Ian Serraillier, illustrated by Mark Severin. Oxford University Press, 1946
  • Woman in Detail by Patrick Miller. 5 collotype plates after drawings by Severin. London: The Golden Cockerel Press, 1947
  • The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite A New Translation by F.L. Lucas, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. Ten Engravings by Mark Severin. London: Golden Cockerel Press, 1948
  • Circe and Ulysses Translated by William Browne. Illustrations by Mark Severin. London: Golden Cockerel Press, 1954
  • Aollonius of Tyre. Historia Apollonii Regis Tyri Translated by Paul Turner. Six engravings by Mark Severin. London: Golden Cockerel Press London, 1956
  • Eve's Moods Unveiled by Jonathan Hanaghan. Copper engravings by Mark Severin. Dublin: Runa Press, 1957
  • Five Japanese Love Stories by Ihara Saikaku, illustrated with wood engravings by Mark Severin. London: Folio Society, 1958
  • Stories by Karel van de Woestijne, illustrations by Mark Severin. Amsterdam: World Library Association, 1959
  • Beowulf the Warrior Ian Serraillier, illustrations by Mark Severin. New York: Henry Z. Walck, Inc., 1961.

Bibliography

  • Chambers, David. Mark Severin's book illustrations in The Private Library Autumn 1980, published by the Private Libraries Association
  • Chambers, David. Mark Severin's Bookplates in The Private Library Spring 1993, published by the Private Libraries Association
  • Lee, B. N., 1983, "Mark Severin" The Bookplate Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, March 1983.
  • Leytens, Fr., Mark F. Severin En Zijn Werk Amsterdam: Wereldbibliotheek 1954
  • Rousseau, Antoine and Gastmans, Andre (preface), Marc Severin Graphiste/Grafisch Ontwerper/Graphic Designer Sint-Martens-Latem, uitgeverij De Dijle 1993. The oeuvre catalogue of Severin's work, with texts in three languages (French, Dutch and English). Contains a list of all the ex-libris he designed, as well as all his other works; this is the most complete book so far, although it does not contain any frankly erotic documents, so as to be accessible to all publics!

References

  1. ↑ Bookplates
  2. 1 2 3 Horne, Alan (1994). "SEVERIN, Mark Fernand". The Dictionary of 20th Century British Book Illustrators. Antique Collectors Club. pp. 388–389.
  3. ↑ Chambers, David (1980). "Mark Severin's Book Illustrations". The Private Library. Third Series. 3 (3): 99–115.
  4. ↑ Lee, B. N. (March 1983). "Profile of an Artist: Mark Severin". The Bookplate Journal. 1 (1): 41–42.
  5. 1 2 Chambers, David (1993). "Making Severin's Bookplates". The Private Library. Fourth Series. 6 (1): 19–40.
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