Guy Lochhead, 07/09/10
Dutch-Italian author and illustrator of children’s books, best known for ‘Frederick’, about a poet mouse who is ostracised by his community’s focus on efficiency. His words end up providing warmth to his cohorts in the winter. Lionni was surrounded by art from a young age, and this is apparent in his initial career choice as a Futurist painter, and, later, in his children’s stories. ‘Frederick’ introduces art and work as unable to co-exist, but people can do both. Lionni’s opinion of art is very different to mine. I won’t include him.