Elizabeth Shaw’s Irish Berlin
Elizabeth Shaw (1920-1992) was a Belfast-born artist who became one of the most popular children’s book authors and illustrators in East Germany. Our project aims to bring the life and work of this migrant artist, who made her way from Belfast via London to Berlin, back to Ireland.
About the Project
Elizabeth Shaw remains a continuing influence and may be seen as an embodiment of Irish-British-German cultural relations. In her works, which are among the classics of German children’s literature, she brought a sense of Irishness and innovative creative ideas to post-WWII Berlin - informed by her experience of Ireland and of 1940’s cosmopolitan London and its arts scene. Our project aims to bring this aspect of German culture, created by a migrant artist who made her way from Belfast via London to Berlin, back to Ireland, i.e. to adult readers within and beyond academia, and to Irish primary classrooms.
Research Partners
Sabine Egger, Associate Professor
Mary Immaculate College (PI)
Fergal Lenehan, Apl. Professor
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (Co-PI)
Áine McGillicuddy, Assistant Professor
Dublin City University (Co-PI)
