Picture This: How Pictures Work

Molly Bang is an American illustrator, writer, and educator who is known for her innovative approach to picture book design and her contributions to the field of visual literacy. Born in 1943 in Princeton, New Jersey, Bang grew up in a family that valued art and creativity. Her mother, Betsy Bang, was a children’s book illustrator, and her father, Garrett Bang, was an architect. Bang earned an undergraduate degree in French from Wellesley College in 1965 and subsequently completed a master’s degree in Far Eastern languages and literatures, beginning her studies at the University of Arizona and later finishing them at Harvard University. Afterward, Bang worked as a translator and language teacher before turning to children’s book illustration in the 1970s.

Throughout her career, Bang has illustrated and written dozens of picture books, many of which have won critical acclaim and awards. Her first book, The Goblins Giggle and Other Stories, was published in 1973, and she has since created over 30 books for children. Some of her most notable works include The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher (1980),Ten, Nine, Eight (1983), and When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry…, all of which were named Caldecott Medal Honor Books, one of the most prestigious children’s book awards.

Bang’s interest in the principles of picture composition and visual perception began in the early 1990s when she started exploring the emotional impact of simple shapes and colors in her own work. This exploration led to the development of a series of workshops and lectures on the topic, which she presented at schools, universities, and conferences around the world. In 1991, she published Picture This, distilling her insights on the emotional language of visual elements. The book is based on Bang’s extensive research into the psychology of art, as well as her own experiences as an illustrator and educator. In it, she uses simple, abstract shapes and colors to demonstrate how the basic elements of a picture can evoke specific emotional responses in the viewer.

Bang’s unique approach to picture book design and visual literacy has been influential in the field of children’s literature and art education. She has taught courses on picture book design at various institutions, including the Rhode Island School of Design and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to her work as an author and illustrator, Bang has served on the board of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

In the Preface to Picture This, Bang explains how she embarked on a self-education journey to understand how pictures work. She took art classes, went to museums, and studied paintings, examining her emotional responses to different artworks. These studies heavily influenced the findings in her book. Moreover, Bang’s educational background in foreign languages is clear in her writing about the structure and meaning of language, both verbal and visual.