31 Comments
User's avatar
Colleen Lodders's avatar

Love this so much! I love cutaway houses so much that my husband painted one of our house for me for Christmas one year. I treasure it.

Expand full comment
jessica davidson's avatar

Oh my gosh, what a thoughtful gift. Would love to see it if you’re willing to share!

Expand full comment
Kristen's avatar

Best post ever. Thank you.

Expand full comment
Rebecca Jones's avatar

Wonderful post!!! Big fan of these. The music video for Protection by Massive Attack is another gorgeous example of the cutaway apartment art

Expand full comment
jessica davidson's avatar

Ooh thanks for the tip, i’ll look it up!

Expand full comment
Kellyanne's avatar

I love cross sectioned houses so much. It's one part love of miniatures, architecture, interior design, the sense that there's a whole universe contained inside a nutshell or a tree root or something, and that that whole universe is beautiful and cozy and safe. It's a confluence of a couple of different things, I think. Thank you for this amazing resource of books to collect!

anyway I love them so much I made a print of one, it's one of my best selling prints, I think people just get it. link if anybody wants to see the postcard version: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1540975563/our-haunted-home-cross-section?ref=shop_home_active_7&frs=1&logging_key=49010a14d3df3b11a7bd156281d0268f05a468b3%3A1540975563

I sell it as a much bigger print at conventions but the shipping of bigger prints is more of a hassle online so I only ship the postcard for the time being.

thanks for posting this, I am literally going to use this as a source to look for these books for my personal library.

Expand full comment
jessica davidson's avatar

Thanks for sharing your link, Kellyanne! I love the postcard— such a detailed drawing and haunted house cross-sections are a favorite subgenre haha. On that note, are you familiar with southern gothic dollhouse? It’s incredible https://www.southerngothicdollhouse.com

Expand full comment
Jo Fairley's avatar

I didn’t know they were called cutaway houses but I have loved them my WHOLE LIFE! ❤️

Expand full comment
Anna Taylor's avatar

May as-well cancel all other substacks. This post will do me for life now. Thank you so much!!

Expand full comment
jessica davidson's avatar

Haha! Thanks for you kind words—it was a pleasure to spend my time compiling so much worthwhile art 💚

Expand full comment
Jennifer's avatar

The Bedspread, a children’s book by Sylvia Fair, has at least one excellent cutaway house illustration!

Expand full comment
Ann McRae's avatar

love love love and have always loved

Expand full comment
Mary Nora's avatar

Wow! That’s a lot. Thanks for making me appreciated the art of these pieces

Expand full comment
Krys Kinsel's avatar

Now I wanna draw one...

Expand full comment
jessica davidson's avatar

share it if you do! <3

Expand full comment
Yves Kervoelen's avatar

I am working on mine, totally gonna read this as a kick in the butt to finish it.

Expand full comment
jessica davidson's avatar

Share it when you're done!

Expand full comment
Yves Kervoelen's avatar

Hi! I wanted to share the outlines now, but I can not seem to be upload pictures/ images as a response! I will post it later (hopefully the finished version) and tag you within the post.

Expand full comment
Natalie Beale's avatar

I remember the Winnie The Witch ones so well!!!

Expand full comment
Kevin's avatar

Amazing

Expand full comment
A-'s avatar

couldn’t be more honored for the mention 🤍

Expand full comment
Perga's avatar

Cutaways are my absolute all-time favourite too! And probably started with Barbapapa’s House 🤍

Not sure how to post photos in comments but I have quite a few I could add to this gorgeous thread

Expand full comment
jessica davidson's avatar

I'm not sure either--maybe it can't be done? You could definitely post links to share though!

Expand full comment
Parrish Baker's avatar
jessica davidson's avatar

Loving the bobs burgers house! Thanks for sharing!

Expand full comment