While thumbing through a pile of used books for sale by a homeless vendor in Union Square I came across one entitled Through Darkest Adolescence by Richard Armour. The book contained illustrations that depicted the tribulations of young teenagers in concise and thoughtful images rendered in pen-and-ink. The name of the illustrator was Susan Perl, whose work I remembered from years ago in the New York Times.
Susan Perl’s illustration for the children’s book entitled Color Wheel
Born Susan Perlmann in Austria in 1922, she came to the United States as a refugee in 1939. She had a prolific career, illustrating children’s books and magazine articles for Conde Nast, Vogue, Harper’s Bazar, Reader’s Digest, the New York Times, and others. I remembered her illustrations that appeared in the Sunday Times for the Health-Tex company.
Susan Perl produced several illustrations for advertisements for Health Tex children’s clothing
I recalled the ads for their multi-racial children with serene, contented expressions and the pudgy little animals they played with. Many of the kids had bright red hair, and they assumed proud stances that showed off their colorful, stylish clothing.
The book I rediscovered in Union Square was indeed special. It depicted young teenagers going through the trauma of adolescence – smoking, kissing, and struggling with schoolwork and pimples. The work had an innocence and psychological honesty that impressed me.
The drawings revealed a playful quality, and her pen-and-ink strokes expressed a spontaneity and emotion that you rarely see in contemporary illustrations produced in digital media. The look and feel was quintessentially New York City, where she spent most of her life.
Susan Perl died in 1983 at the young age of 60. I am gratified that I was able to reconnect with her through the homeless bookseller in Union Square.
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I just rediscovered a favorite book from when I was a child; A Pickle for a Nickel by Lillian Moore and illustrated by Susan Perl. Her illustrations are what stand out in my memory, even more than the story line. I wish I could leave a photo here for you.
Was just looking through a Childcraft book that I grew up reading. I decided to look up some of the artists, because they left such an impression in my memeories. Delighted to find this about Susan Perl, and her sister. Thank you!
Thanks for the note Tracy. Did Susan Perl have a sister also an artist?
Susan Perl’s sister was also a prolific 60’s era illustrator. Her name was Erica Perl Merckling and her feminine illustrations graced many teenage books on grooming and beauty. Both were talented but with different styles that overlapped.
Thank you I totally did not know this!