A few days ago I blogged about an American illustrator – Stevan Dohanos
I’ve since run across yet another thanks to a blog from “Azio Media – Independent Used Bookstore & Vinyl Record Shop“. This illustrator is best known for his men’s fashion advertisements, particularly the Arrow Collar Man, and as Norman Rockwell’s predecessor as the premier illustrator of covers for the Saturday Evening Post.
J.C. or ‘Joe’ Leyendecker was born on March 23, 1874, in Montabaur, Germany and was with us up until 1951, He worked in late adolescence for a Chicago engraving firm and later enrolled in the Chicago Art Institute. While Leyendecker’s artistic endeavors date back to his early childhood, this was his first formal art training in an academic setting.
After studying at the Chicago Art Institute, Leyendecker and younger brother Frank enrolled in the Academie Julian in Paris for a year, where they were exposed to the work of Toulouse Lautrec, Cheret, and also Alphonse Mucha, founder of the Art Nouveau movement.
The Leyendecker brothers set up residence in Illinois, and had a studio in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building at 410 South Michigan Ave. On May 20, 1899 Joe received his first commission for a Saturday Evening Post cover – the beginning of his forty-four year association with the most popular magazine in the country. His career would yield 322 covers, among which iconic 20th century American images and visual tradition were founded and/or popularized. Covers such as the New Year Baby, the pudgy red-garbed rendition of Santa Claus, flowers for Mother’s Day, and firecrackers on the 4th of July.
Perhaps what caught my attention was this Saturday Evening Post cover from January 2, 1943 showing the Nazi swastika being pierced by a New Year’s baby wielding a rifle. A very appropriate cover for the start of 1943.
I’m sure some more research would find a lot more of Joe’s outstanding covers.
I’m Tom Murphy and thanks for helping me give Ephemera the encore it deserves.
Tom
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Technorati tags: Bonanzle, Encore Ephemera, Ephemera, The Ephemera Network, JC Leyendecker, Saturday Evening Post
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I was just browsing a flea market today and got the New Years copy of the Post you mentioned for $3! I’m no collector or anything, but I am a veteran and was really intrigued by all the wartime art ensconced in the advertisements.
It just so happened that this issue I picked out was Leyendecker’s last. I was just excited to get this piece of Americana, & so affordably!