I’m probably in the minority here, but the classic Wizard of Oz movie was never a childhood favorite of mine. I can appreciate its significance in film history, but it was too cloying and cutesy for me.
Return to Oz is often looked down upon, but I prefer it so much more. It’s weird and strange and wonderful, kind of like how Oz is supposed to be. Princess Mombi (a combination of the witch Mombi and Princess Langwidere from the novels) fascinated me when I was little. And Tik-Tok, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Gump, and Billina seemed like way better traveling companions than the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion.
Jan van Kessel - The Mockery of the Owl (second half 17th century)
The fully-fledged animal painting emerged in the late 16th century with the rise of biological research and collections of rare creatures. Jan van Kessel in The Mockery of the Owl demonstrates a thorough knowledge of exotic animals. The artist uses a narrative subject as a vehicle for painting his animals.
Seems legit.
