The Nobel Prize in Literature Diplomas

[tiganeasca]

I never knew what the Nobel "diplomas" look like before (sorry for the size and quality). I also quote from the Prize's website:

"The Swedish Academy is responsible for the design of the Literature diploma and they have almost always used individual designs related to each laureate. The artists have tried to summarize something of the atmosphere and character of each author’s works. Sine the laureates are not announced until mid-October and the diplomas must be ready before 10 December, the diploma artist has only a few weeks to summarize the collected works or personal attributes of each author."

They also include this statement that is stunning in its...um...originality.
"In 1986, the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature was Wole Soyinka of Nigeria. His diploma imparts a genuine feeling of throbbing rhythms, magic rites and the struggle for liberation."

 

[Leseratte]

The Art Design on them is beautiful, but to me they look more like birthday or Christmas Cards than diplomas.

 

[hayden]

"The Swedish Academy is responsible for the design of the Literature diploma and they have almost always used individual designs related to each laureate. The artists have tried to summarize something of the atmosphere and character of each author’s works.

Imagine Ishiguro getting his only to realize the SA thinks he's as exciting as a piece of toast.

 

[hayden]

Not to hijack your post Tiganeasca, but here's a few more—

(added some more)
Looks like they stopped doing illustrations after Dylan.

 

[Liam]

I forget where exactly we discussed this, but there was a thread where members posted their favorite Nobel diplomas, I think Patrick White was one of the early favorites,

 

[Stevie B]

Imagine Ishiguro getting his only to realize the SA thinks he's as exciting as a piece of toast.

Ishiguro was definitely short-changed. It's like the person responsible for arranging his diploma dropped the ball and they had to scramble to put together a generic one last minute.

 

[Bartleby]

I forget where exactly we discussed this, but there was a thread where members posted their favorite Nobel diplomas, I think Patrick White was one of the early favorites,

I search the keywords “diploma”, “nobel diploma”, and couldn’t find such thread, so I moved it here, so those wonderful pictures don’t get lost in the WLF Prize thread. I hope it’s ok, and it serves as a place for sharing your favourite illustrations

 

[Mise Eire]

Here's the marvelous Paddy White diploma - with scenes from The Tree of Man.

 

[Papageno]

This is so sad! Does anyone know why they have decided to switch to issuing those generic diplomas now instead of the gorgeously beautiful ones they did up until that fateful year 2016? The Modiano one is so gorgeous and such a wonderful illustration of his work. The other ones are also incredible and, what is most important, unique. I hope they plan to switch to the old way for Gurnah and the future laureates.

Here is the hauntingly beautiful Mo Yan diploma:

 

[Leseratte]

Just a supposition. To cut expenses.?

 

[Bartleby]

Again, no illustrations I'm watching the 2021 award ceremony and it showed the winners of the Peace prize and theirs were illustrated...

 

[hayden]

Again, no illustrations

Boooooo.

Really thought he'd get one too. Hoping they bring the tradition back eventually.

 

[Papageno]

Unfortunately, there are no illustrations on Ernaux's diploma, and it now begins to seem the venerable old tradition of illustrated diplomas is gone for good.



Meanwhile, the Peace Prize diplomas are still richly illustrated:


I really cannot imagine that the SA is so short on cash that they had to ditch the illustrations! I don't know if they ever offered a coherent explanation why they changed the diplomas?

 

[Ben Jackson]

The Nobel diplomas are very amazing. The most beautiful of them all is the somewhat Dantesque vision of Solzhenistyn. It's like someone walking across the circles of Hell. I also like Transtromer's, like a shuttle between sleep and waking. I think when we are designing our diplomas for laureates for WLF Prize, we need to take a cue from Nobel Diplomas. It's very amazing. Don't know why the committee no longer gives beautiful illustrations like the past anymore.