In 1984, Van Allsburg published a collection of fourteen eerie drawings, supposedly the work of a vanished illustrator who left behind only enigmatic captions and titles. Here a group of celebrated writers step into the breach. The best efforts—Kate DiCamillo’s epistles from a sickly girl who bites her nose-whistling doctor (but not before “he got through most of ‘Begin the Beguine’ ”) and Stephen King’s effortless conjuring of suburban surrealism—preserve the mystery rather than explain it. ♦
Weekly
Enjoy our flagship newsletter as a digest delivered once a week.
Cover Story
Faith Ringgold’s “Sonny’s Bridge, 1986”
The late artist’s work recalls her pioneering spirit through vivid, inventive designs.
By Françoise Mouly
The Art World
The Dead Rise at the Venice Biennale
Stifled by a weird and desperate present, the show finds some life in the treasures of the past.
By Jackson Arn
The Art World
Anni Albers Transformed Weaving, Then Left It Behind
Her textiles are quiet revelations, but even her later prints show how restraint can generate ravishing beauty.
By Jackson Arn
Photo Booth
Josef Koudelka Could Locate Beauty Anywhere
His latest show is titled “Industry,” a word that defines not just the subject matter but the artist.
By Nicholas Dawidoff