Original artwork, of page 19, for the book, Gaston and Josephine, written by Georges Duplaix with illustrations by Feodor Rojankovsky, and published by Simon & Schuster in New York, New York, in 1949.

At an early age, Latvian-born Feodor Rojankovsky (1891-1970) discovered his passion for drawing and was captivated with animals an d the natural world. He entered the Moscow Academy of Fine Arts but was drafted into the Russian Army during World War I, where he worked as a sketch artist documenting the war. In 1927, he moved to Paris to continue his study of art and became interested in fashion, theatrical set design and illustrating children’s books.

Rojankovsky’s keen sense of observation and his vivid imagination, coupled with his love for nature, was a major source of inspiration for his artwork. Flat, richly detailed, colorful illustrations evoked the fanciful drawings of the folklore tradition of European fairy tales. When the Nazi influence spread through Europe, Rojankovsky fled to the United States. His talents were quickly recognized and, like many of the other Golden Book illustrators, he was hired to work for the Artists and Writers Guild in New York. He created illustrations for numerous Little Golden Books, including The Three Bears and Farm Favorites.

Most of Feodor Rojankovsky’s characters were animals who took on human traits and characteristics. Gaston and Josephine are two French pigs who decide to run away from their home in the French countryside. The story follows their escapades as they make their way to the docks to board an ocean liner and embark on their journey to the United States.