Last summer, I published a piece in The Journal of Tolkien Research on “Josef Madlener’s ‘Der Berggiest’: Not the Origin of Gandalf.” It is freely available here. My point basically was that it was chronologically impossible for a postcard first printed in 1935 to have influenced
One remark: "Waldmärchen" would best be translated as "Forest fairy tale", not "Forest fairy". Since many fairy tales feature girls getting lost in the forest, the picture might depict such a situation. The figure surely seems to be stepping cautiously.
I've been a Madlener fan (beyond the JRRT association) for 40-odd years now!
I am glad to see Madlener is still on your mind - he is very much with me!
Thanks for sharing, Doug!
One remark: "Waldmärchen" would best be translated as "Forest fairy tale", not "Forest fairy". Since many fairy tales feature girls getting lost in the forest, the picture might depict such a situation. The figure surely seems to be stepping cautiously.
Best,
Moritz
Thanks, Moritz. This sounds correct.
Thank you Doug, this was wonderful. I must admit that the female fairy in Waldmärchen gave me the creeps.