A wooden table that ‘manages’ to link secretly History and Art.
The fable-like story shows the journey of a table from one home to another. “The Table That Ran Away to the Woods” follows the author’s table, which slips in pairs of his and his wife’s shoes—the illustrator Franciszka Themerson. Leaving the urban environment, the table reaches nature, where, feeling at home, the leaf springs and turns into a brunch.
The book was published several times, metaphorically showing some form of escapism. The current edition published in Poland (1963) follows the table through a surrounding communist block of flats demonstrating the loss of creativity and free speech during the Communist Era. The first publication in Paris (1940), knowing from the note at the back showing the same story drawn with a pen without the communist buildings, might again indicate a restriction of speech with the outbreak of WWII, an experience even felt strongly by the authors due to their Jewish heritage.
“The Table That Ran Away to the Woods” has an adult feel; however, it can be used by primary school children studying collage techniques, connecting colour objects to highlight significance. Another benefit is the artistic use of font, emphasising the written text.
An excellent Art addition for primary school libraries!
It is one of those ‘little’ books that made me think for a while. Maybe that was due to the note at the end. I like it.
Have you come across a book since reading the note to understand why it is the way it is?
The Stats:
- Title: The Table That Ran Away to the Woods
- Author and Illustrator: Stafan Themerson & Franciszka Themerson
- ISBN: 978 1 84976 057 7
- Publication Date: 2012
- Page Count: 20
- Publisher: Tate Publishing
- Recommended age: 7-11
- Categories/Topic: art, collage, fable
Where to Find it:
- Buy on: Amazon
- Find on: Goodreads
