Oliver Herford

Oddly enough there isn’t much written (at least online) about the life of Oliver Herford despite his work being so popular. He was born in Sheffield, England in 1863. His family emigrated to the United States when young Oliver was six. He returned to England for his schooling, coming home to America to Antioch College in Ohio. He studied art in London and Paris.

He worked for both Life and Harper’s Weekly early in his career. His wife was the playwright Margaret Regan. The pair appear to have been a party of New York Society and he is remembered almost as much for his wit as his art; despite having illustrated a number of books written by himself and others.

Some of my favorite Oliver Herford quotations include:

“There is no time like the pleasant.”

“Cat: a pygmy lion who loves mice, hates dogs, and patronizes human beings.”

“Darling: the popular form of address used in speaking to a member of the opposite sex whose name you cannot at the moment remember.”

Of course, here at ReusableArt.com, we’re all about the art. So without further ado, here’s our growing collection of Oliver Herford illustrations for your enjoyment.