The Book of Masks: 1920s Fantasy & Art Nouveau Bestiary

Welcome to The Book of Masks. 

We are resurrecting lost characters from the Golden Age of Illustration (1880-1930) and giving them new life - perfect as a beautiful display for your coffee table, or as inspiration for your fantasy characters.

Both art book and character codex. 

The restored vintage illustrations are paired with a structured lore system. This creates a tabletop-ready tome where every page offers a hook, a backstory, unique items and abilities. Elevate your campaign with dark fantasy and fairytale aesthetics that you won't find in a standard monster manual.

The Artists

This trilogy of premium hardcovers features the works of three legendary, yet often overlooked masters: Kay Nielsen, Edmund Dulac, and Virginia Frances Sterrett. These artists defined the visual language of fantasy long before film and video games, yet time has eroded their legacy.  

A Danish illustrator whose career soared and plummeted, Nielsen gave us the stark, dramatic lines that would eventually inspire Disney's 'Fantasia' and the 'Little Mermaid'. Tragically, he only received true critical acclaim after dying impoverished in 1957. In the Book of Masks, we want to pay tribute to Nielsen, a true master at bringing characters to life, offering epic quests full of royal intrigue, and Nordic-inspired adventures.

A master of color and atmosphere, Dulac's work defined the fairy tales of the Arabian Nights, Ali Baba, and Sinbad the Sailor. Dulac was the only other artist who seriously challenged Arthur Rackham, the other most popular name in the golden age of illustration. While Rackham was celebrated for his line work, Dulac was a specialist in color. Rackham drew tales from the north - from England and Scandinavia, but Dulac drew the Orient - filling his pages with the indigo nights and opulence of Persia and Japan. 

Dulac lived his life to the fullest, dying of a heart attack at age 70 after a vigorous session of flamenco dancing. We want to celebrate his legacy by sharing his beautiful vision: desert empires, mystical journeys, and exotic jewellery. 

Sterrett, one of America's most talented illustrators of the time, crafted an array of fragile, haunting, and oftentimes breath taking pieces. Tragically passing at age 30, she left behind a small but potent body of work full of haunting beauty.

Despite Virginia's artistic prowess, her name today is almost completely unknown. We hope to change that by showing off her wonderful fey characters, dreamy worlds, and high-magic settings.

Inside the Book

Character driven. These books are designed as interactive character guides. Each spread features the restored artwork on the left, and a dedicated narrative profile on the right.

The lore from each ancient tale is broken down into five distinct categories, allowing you to instantly understand the character, their story and their motives. There are even flavour items and special abilities for each character - so you can drop the character into D&D 5e, OSR, Pathfinder, or any other system without converting numbers.

Technical Specs

We are partnering with Tigerprinting, a manufacturer renowned for their work on high-quality Kickstarter board games and art books, to ensure these volumes are archival quality.

• Format: 6 x 9 inches (152mm x 229mm) – The perfect handheld size.
• Length: 80+ pages per volume.
• Cover: Hardcover Faux Leather over sturdy 2.5mm grey board.
• Finishing: Matte lamination with Gold Foil Stamping and Concave Debossing for a premium, textured feel.
• Interior: Printed on heavy 157g coated art paper (4c/4c) for vibrant, archival-quality color reproduction.
• Binding: Smyth-Sewn (Section-sewn). This ensures the book lays completely flat at the gaming table without breaking the spine.

The Collection

The full three-book set for collectors who want the complete experience. Offered at a special bundle price.

The Deluxe Edition

The Deluxe Edition comes with:

• A luxury full color slipcase.
• 3 x A3 sized posters.
• 3 x A5 postcard sized prints.
• Full digital art set - includes over 100 character and art PNGs. 

The Patron Edition

With the Patron Edition, you get everything included in the Deluxe Edition, but you also get your name and a personal dedication permanently printed in the Credits Section. You can choose any book and we'll make sure to include your message. A timeless way to mark a special occasion or to craft a meaningful gift for someone close to you.

The Characters

The Book of Masks is full of weird and wonderful characters, each sketched or painted over 100 years ago. Some of the names you might recognise include:

Other characters - you might never have heard of them. They include forgotten queens, masked spirits, wandering princes, and creatures pulled from the margins of lost manuscripts. Open any page and you’ll find a new tale -  maybe as a muse for your next campaign, illustration, or story or just to satisfy your curiosity. Get ready to step inside their shoes, put on a new mask, and immerse yourself in a unique fantasy world.

Because the books are system-neutral, they are perfect for TTRPG players, fantasy writers and art lovers. The "Mask" and "Myth" sections act as creative prompts, making this trilogy essential for worldbuilding - anyone looking to add gothic folklore and classic mythology to their creative projects should check it out! If you enjoy immersive storytelling and tabletop gaming, these 80-page hardcovers are built for you.

The Art

Not a Tabletop RPG player? Don't worry. The Book of Masks is designed to be completely dual-purpose. You don’t need to roll a single die to appreciate the striking Art Nouveau character designs and dark fantasy landscapes. It stands proudly on its own as a premium, vintage art book - perfect for your coffee table or bookshelf. 

Beyond the characters lies the Gallery Section at the back of the book - a carefully curated collection of the most breathtaking, surreal, and highly creative fantasy illustrations from Nielsen, Dulac, and Sterrett. Whether you're seeking inspiration for your own ideas, or simply love collecting gorgeous art, this dedicated section strips away the gaming mechanics to highlight the raw creative genius of these classic artists.

The Team

Arcane Canvas is a small but experienced indie team - we have already completed and fulfilled several projects on Kickstarter - The Dream of Gods, a narrative puzzle book and The Rune Hunter's Sketchbook, a D&D bestiary. We strive to make unique art and put a smile on people's faces. 

Shipping Estimates

The above costs are estimates but we will try our best to get the lowest rates and pass these savings on to our backers! Shipping costs will be charged after the crowdfunding ends, closer to the actual shipping date.

Fulfilment Timeline: Feb-March: final design, art, editing & layout. April-May: final files sent to printer. Production begins. May: Sea shipping to fulfilment partner warehouse. June:  Fulfilment begins!

Why back the Book of Masks?

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