Pooh in Pencil: First-Time Release of Original Winnie-the-Pooh Sketches from The Guardian
- Two previously unseen pencil sketches by E H Shepard, the original illustrator of Winnie-the-Pooh, have been shared for the first time by his family to mark the centenary...
- The drawings, which were abandoned at the earliest stage of the book’s creation, offer a rare glimpse into Shepard’s working process as he brought Milne’s characters to life.
- The second sketch is a delicate study for Chapter III, in which Pooh and Piglet go hunting and nearly catch a Woozle.
Two previously unseen pencil sketches by E H Shepard, the original illustrator of Winnie-the-Pooh, have been shared for the first time by his family to mark the centenary of A A Milne’s beloved children’s book.
The drawings, which were abandoned at the earliest stage of the book’s creation, offer a rare glimpse into Shepard’s working process as he brought Milne’s characters to life. One sketch, captioned “Climbing very cautiously up the stream,” depicts Winnie-the-Pooh alongside Christopher Robin, Piglet and Owl, and was intended for Chapter VIII, in which Christopher Robin leads an “expotition” to the North Pole.
The second sketch is a delicate study for Chapter III, in which Pooh and Piglet go hunting and nearly catch a Woozle. In that scene, Milne wrote: “We are all going on an Expedition,” said Christopher Robin, as he got up and brushed himself. “Thank you, Pooh.” “Going on an Expotition?” said Pooh eagerly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on one of those…”