Ralph Bergengren. David the Dreamer. <<Illustrated by Tom Seidmann-Freud.>>

Despite her short career (she committed suicide at the age of 38, four months after the death of her husband), Viennese-born Martha (“Tom”) Seidmann-Freud (1892-1930) had a lasting impression on 20th-century children’s literature. Her unique illustrative style is characterized by simple geometric shapes with gentle colors, a poetic seriousness that reflects the “New Objectivity” (Neue Sachlichkeit) modern art movement prevalent in post-world war I Germany. However, Seidmann-Freud’s artistic achievements are no less important than her significance as an intuitive educator, who knew how to enrich children’s imaginations and activate their minds in a creative manner. The story “David the Dreamer” is an unusual fantasy about a young boy and his dream adventures, magnificently illustrated by Seidmann-Freud in Art Deco style. Given the content of this book, it could not be more appropriate that the illustrator was the niece of the founding father of psychoanalysis and author of “The Interpretation of Dreams.” Tom Seidmann-Freud’s innovations in children’s books were felt the world over. The present book marks her first American appearance.