Gustaf Tenggren occupies a unique position in Swedish illustration art during the early 20th century. The years around 1918–1920 became a period of artistic significance, during which Tenggren developed the fairy-tale painting and visual world that would later bring him international recognition. After succeeding John Bauer as the chief illustrator in 1918 for the classic fairy tale collection Among Gnomes and Trolls, Tenggren continued the tradition, but with a distinctly personal expression.

In the illustrations from this period, the viewer encounters fairy-tale beings depicted with a dramatic flair and ornamentation, where influences from national romanticism and Art Nouveau merge with a strong sense of storytelling. His images are characterised by rich detail and an almost scenographic composition, making each illustration appear as its own visual tale.

At the same time, this period marks the end of his Swedish career before emigrating to the USA in 1920, where he would later work in American children's book illustration and at The Walt Disney Company.