Century Guild
Wicked Pursuits
The Art of Der Orchideengarten Vol. 8
Wicked Pursuits: The Art of Der Orchideengarten Vol. 8 thoroughly covers the entirety of the magnificent and macabre illustrations in issues #7-12 of Der Orchideengarten magazine from 1921, its final year of publication.
The illustrations are captured from high-resolution scans made from a pristine collection in the Century Guild museum archive, and the accompanying text documents our extensive research to support the artworks and verify the artists whose names were not credited in the magazine.
5.5" x 8.5" softcover, 80 pp full color throughout
About Der Orchideengarten Magazine
Der Orchideengarten is a legendary supernatural horror magazine, published in Germany from January 1919 until November 1921.
Founded four years before the iconic American magazine Weird Tales launched in March 1923, Der Orchideengarten is considered to be the first fantasy magazine.
Published after the First World War when German art was at its height of decadence and debauchery, the magazine included a wide selection of new and reprinted stories by both German-language and foreign writers ranging from suspense and terror to crime and the eerily-erotic.
While the literary content is historically significant, many of the stories have been reprinted in multiple places across the last century; we have focused our attention on what has gone undocumented: the incredible artworks that illustrated these stories.
The artworks range from peculiar medieval etchings to occult woodblocks to expressionist visions- all balancing the romantic and the gothic with hyper-elegant sophistication.
For nearly 20 years, Century Guild has devoted itself to building and presenting an archive of important artworks that define the origins of popular culture. Der Orchideengarten gets mentioned frequently on blogs, at fantasy conventions, and at certain full-moon cauldron gatherings, but the same low-resolution images get shared over and over again. This book is an opportunity to explore the publication in depth, with high resolution scans made from a pristine collection!
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What Sets A Century Guild Book Apart?
Museum-grade imaging from original artworks
We photograph and scan artworks using museum-level equipment to capture details often missed in standard or even professional-grade reproductions, giving you the closest possible experience to seeing the art in person.
Previously unpublished research and rarely-seen material
In many cases, we've been able to identify newly attributed artists and present previously unpublished history.
LUXURIOUSLY CRAFTED
No cost is spared in producing books with exceptional quality, often involving custom-dyed covers, spot varnishing, and paper selection that push today's printing standards to their limits.
Direct from the ORIGINAL MATERIALS
Images are faithfully captured from the rare, original period artworks in the Century Guild collection, not from third-party sources.
Product information
We use sturdy, reinforced packaging to protect your item(s) in transit. Every order is carefully inspected and packed personally by our team to ensure quality and guarantee the safe arrival of your books, artworks, and other items.
Exhibitions You Can Hold
Each of our books is a unique journey through over two decades of mindful collecting, curation, and original research, making these volumes permanent, immersive exhibitions you can enjoy time and time again.
