Skip to main content
Collections Menu
Low res. jpg. image- NOT publication quality
Cover Illustration for "Two Worlds" by Poul Anderson
Low res. jpg. image- NOT publication quality

Cover Illustration for "Two Worlds" by Poul Anderson

Artist Jack Gaughan
Author Poul Anderson
Date1978
Mediumacrylic paint; illustration board
DimensionsOverall (HWD): 10 1/2 × 14 1/2 in. (26.67 × 36.83 cm)
Credit LineMoPOP permanent collection, gift of Jack Gaughan Estate
Object number2014.18.27
Text Entries

This painting, by Jack Gaughan, is of the wraparound cover of the book Two Worlds, by Poul Anderson (1978). This omnibus edition collected two of Anderson’s novels: Planet of No Return (1956) and World Without Stars (1967). 

 

The layout of the painting clearly indicates its intended use as a book cover. Notice how the right panel, which would be the front cover, contains open areas at the top and bottom. These areas are kept clear for the book’s title and the author’s name. Moving right to left, the narrow, center rectangle also has clear space for the book’s title on the spine. The composition on the left, with multiple images, reflects how the book contains various stories. 

 

The painting is part of the Jack Gaughan archive, which was generously gifted to MoPOP by his estate in 2014. The archive contains many paintings, thousands of interior illustrations, and nearly 100 sketchbooks. It’s a nearly-complete record of the career of a prolific science fiction and fantasy artist, and even includes all financial records relating to his artwork. Gaughan was active from the mid-1950s until his untimely death in 1985. 

A ten and a half inch high by fourteen and a half inch wide painting on artist board. Yellows, reds, and oranges dominate the palette. The right half of the painting shows a red spaceship flying over a barren orb with a dry, cracked surface. The sky above is yellow and full of swirls. The left side of the painting is composed of six rectangular images: a black rocket rising against an orange background; a cratered planet in front of a red background; a man in a deep blue spacesuit against a red background; a hilly landscape in yellow with a deep red sun; a small spaceship flying toward a mechanical looking satellite or planet; an alien with a cone-shaped body, tentacles for legs and arms, with a ring of eyes near the top of its body.
CopyrightThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, see http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
On View
On view
Large Format image
The Matrix
Date: 1997
Medium: illustration board; ink; graphite; crayons; gouache
Object number: 2023.42.252.3
Large Format image
The Matrix
Date: 1999
Medium: illustration board; ink; graphite; crayons; gouache
Object number: 2023.42.252.1
Large Format image
The Matrix
Date: 1999
Medium: illustration board; ink; graphite; crayons; gouache
Object number: 2023.42.252.2
Cover Art for "Spectrum: No. 1, A Science Fiction Anthology"
Richard M. Powers
Date: 1971
Medium: oil paint; boards (flat objects)
Object number: 2023.42.117
Cover Art for "The Mountains of the Sun" by Christian Léourier
Richard M. Powers
Date: 1974
Medium: acrylic; boards (flat objects)
Object number: 2023.42.335
Derelict
Frank Wu
Date: 2005
Medium: acrylic paint; pencils; wood; glue; canvas
Object number: 2006.13.2
Cover Art for Preferred Risk by Edson McCann
Richard M. Powers
Date: 1962
Medium: mixed media; boards (flat objects)
Object number: 2023.42.336
Cover Art for "Star Light, Star Brigh"t by Alfred Bester
Richard M. Powers
Date: 1976
Medium: oil paint; Masonite (TM)
Object number: 2023.42.118
Cover Art for "The Day of the Shield" by Anthony Alban
Richard M. Powers
Date: 1973
Medium: acrylic; panel (wood)
Object number: 2023.42.334
Low res. jpg. image- NOT publication quality
Tomata du Plenty
Date: 2008
Medium: Acrylic on paper, framed
Object number: 2008.40
Welcome Aboard
Frank Wu
Date: 2005
Medium: acrylic on canvas
Object number: 2006.13.1
Large format image
Michael Whelan
Date: 1978
Medium: acrylic on masonite
Object number: 2021.77.4