Garth Williams - Book Illustration from 1945 - The Door Opens

This Garth Williams ink illustration appeared in Ernst Lothar's "The Door Opens", published by Doubleday in 1945. It appeared as a full-page illustration in chapter six of the book. The piece came from Williams' estate and is signed on the back.

While not so typical of his later "Little House on the Prairie" style work, I was really taken by the pen work in this illustration, as well as the space in the piece. It reminds me of a certain style of British illustration, with hints of Edward Ardizzone. The pen work is quite lovely in person.