Earl Thollander: Sketching the World’s Back Roads

Thollander’s claim to fame were his ‘Back Roads’ illustrated books. His true desire, as a reporter-artist struck with wanderlust, was to slow down and appreciate the world in all its diversity.

Sep 08, 2022

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Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island said, “for travel’s sake…the great affair is to move.” This was also the dictum of reporter artist and world traveler Earl Thollander (1923-2001). Best known for his Back Roads series of books of travel sketches and trip notes, Thollander took archetypal journeys of both expanse and detail. He traveled w…

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A guest post by

Bill Russell

Bill Russell is a visual journalist, illustrator and painter who writes about art and reportage.

On the Spot

Earl Thollander: Sketching the World’s Back Roads

Thollander’s claim to fame were his ‘Back Roads’ illustrated books. His true desire, as a reporter-artist struck with wanderlust, was to slow down and appreciate the world in all its diversity.

This post is for paid subscribers