Chapter 603 - 277: A Request from Jean Arnou (2)

Jean Jacques Arno.

The greatest illustrator born in the first twenty years of the twenty-first century, without question.

Recipient of the Scholastic Group’s Master Award for Outstanding Contributions to Writing and Art, and the Andersen Award.

He is an artist who pushed fairy tales to the extreme, an "Emperor" in the illustration world who can sell an illustration for one million US dollars.

People say,

Since its founding after World War II, among the creators who have collaborated with Scholastic Group, the most lucrative individual is not the fantasy queen J.K. Rowling.

But rather the Pop Art Godfather, illustrator Andy Warhol.

The sales of the "Harry Potter" series novels, movie IPs, and even theme park ticket revenues for Hogwarts at Universal Studios worldwide barely amount to around eight billion US dollars.

Whereas Andy Warhol, with his over ten thousand portraits, sketches, and experimental works—during the peak years of pop art, with aggressive estimation, perhaps really could touch the edge of ten billion US dollars.

No matter how much is foam, we won’t discuss.

Talking purely about selling a popular genre work like illustration for tens of millions of US dollars is an art history miracle.

The North American Headquarters of Scholastic Group has a commemorative hall, its walls covered in commemorative posters with signatures from famous literary and illustrative collaborators.

To the left are authors, to the right are illustrators.

The one gracing the central wall isn’t one of the three presidents who authored memoirs, nor J.K. Rowling, nor Andy Warhol.

But rather Toni Morrison (Note: 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature winner) and Jean Arnou.

Lady Rowling and the Pop Art Godfather are only in third and fourth place.

Scholastic put Toni Morrison in first place, it’s hard to say if it isn’t augmented by her status as a representative of the Black civil rights movement.

Some people call her a female literary version of Martin Luther King.

While Jean Arnou standing over Andy Warhol’s head entirely relies on personal strength.

Though their market value in commerce isn’t comparable, in the world of illustration recognition and award history, Jean Arnou overtakes him.

Especially in 2013, the illustration collection "Greenfield Miracle" simultaneously won the Eisner Best Illustration Award, Illustration of the Year Award, World Fantasy Award, Caldecott Medal Award, Scholastic Group’s Master Award for Outstanding Contributions to Writing and Art, and the Andersen Award, six top awards.

The industry called 2013 "Jean Arnou’s Coronation Year."

The reason this Elder Master’s work doesn’t reach Andy Warhol’s prices relates inherently to his low-key personality avoiding public media’s showcases.

He lacks merely commercial hype, not painting talent.

One might say,

Jean Arnou embodies the pinnacle of all illustrators’ dreams as a complete life winner.

"The son of this Art Master is actually an autistic patient?"

Miss Ilina learned this shocking news upon reading an email.

Reflecting on it,

Mr. Jean Arnou always remained very low-key in front of the media.

The public calls him a "socially awkward genius," "the Einstein of the art world."

The Elder and Van Doorn, attending fashion weeks, embracing bikini beauties appearing in paparazzi shots across global beaches, are almost entirely two different personas.

Even at the Danish Andersen Award’s ceremony, he appeared alone.

Apart from being introverted, it probably also involved protecting family from media intrusion.

Building good relations with such an illustration master yields nothing but benefits.

Gaining Jean Arnou’s friendship or gratitude tremendously aids a professional career.

Art, indeed, is a game of connections.

Among contemporaries of Mr. Cao Xuan’s stature in today’s serious art world, three to five can still be found.

In the illustration realm, Jean Arnou has virtually no slightly weaker rivals.

Standing out as the greater Bodhisattva in a small temple.

Sir Brown wants to tread on Detective Cat can do so freely, but if he were Jean Arnou, doubts would arise from the start.

From a more pragmatic point of view, Anna suggested Uncle Osborne nominate Detective Cat for this year’s Scholastic Group Master Award for Outstanding Contribution in Writing and Art.

According to the rules — publicly and partly nominated by Scholastic executives.

Subsequently, an invited five-member jury panel comprising illustrators, media figures, critics, writers, and curators selects four Excellent Contribution Awards and one Outstanding Contribution Award from the nominees.

In recent years,

Jean Arnou continuously presides over this five-member jury, playing a crucial role in deciding the award list.

In brief,

If Detective Cat’s paintings can truly assist Jean Arnou.

Then it certainly stands out as a task more deserving of attention than even "Blazing World" and "Blue Moon" combined.

In a sense,

It offers a rarer opportunity than illustrating for "The Little Prince."

Facing Jean Arnou’s email invitation, Anna hesitated primarily for two reasons.

First, Lady Detective Cat is committed to keeping her identity a secret.

Several TV stations have sought interviews with Detective Cat over the past days, including invites from renowned shows, all declined by Detective Cat.

Second,

Does illustration therapy genuinely work with autism?

Miss Ilina sincerely believes Detective Cat’s artwork bears the power to touch people’s hearts, but whether it plays a role in autism therapy.

She remains unsure.

Illustration intervention reading colorful fairy tales is indeed a common therapy for autistic patients.

Yet Jean Arnou himself is the world’s finest fairy tale illustration master.

If ordinary illustrations were effective,

Why would Jean Arnou need to sell face seeking aid?

Higher hopes may lead to greater disappointment.

Miss Ilina is still weighing the practicability of this matter.

Research on "The Little Prince" illustration continues at the University of London, which will be a prolonged process.

Compared to complex pharmacological new drug trials and marketing, illustration therapy involves much simpler procedures. Ultimately, the worst-case scenario for looking at illustrations is merely having no effect.

Causing toxic side effects proving difficult.

Yet whether it be the FDA in the United States or EMA in the European Union, or MHRA in Britain, such medical regulatory agencies, their efficiency isn’t high.

A new experimental therapy from paper publication to approval and into the medicinal market, every step encounters complex procedures and reviews.

Regarding medical arguments, getting conclusive results within a year or half is quite difficult.

Even the research group maintains tight-lipped externally.

This stuff isn’t a scam health product; it’s wholly tied to academic prestige.

Generally speaking, obtaining some news is challenging.

But Anna isn’t ordinary.

Who could refuse when Miss Ilina happens to be one of the country’s biggest landladies? Once you have enough money, many problems are easily solved.

The reason Anna didn’t mention Jean Arnou’s matter to Detective Cat Sister yet is because she’s investigating news these days.

The girl picks up her phone, dialed a number at the University of London’s Foreign Affairs Department.

"This is Anna Ilina, may I speak with your Executive Vice President Hunter? I’m interested in one of your medical projects."

Miss Ilina just donated a 5 million Euro check to King’s Hospital at the University of London day before yesterday.

Anna’s family’s business scale, whether for tax optimization or social reciprocation, long established a charitable foundation under the family name.

Legal stipulations mandate charitable foundations spend a minimum percentage of assets on charitable activities.

This 5 million Euro donation essentially uses this year’s quota.

If the accounting department fudges numbers, it might cover up to two years’ budget audit.