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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Traffic Mishap, 1990

Artist:Harold McCauley
Date:1955
Medium:Oil on Canvas
Dimensions:Sight size 22" x 30" Framed 25 3/4" x 33 3/4"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Cover For Imagination - Stories of Science and Fantasy - January, 1955
Price: Sold
Full view of oil on canvas cover painting
Full view of oil on canvas cover painting

 

The artwork as it appeared in print, (included in sale)
The artwork as it appeared in print, (included in sale)

This original oil on canvas painting, used as the cover for the January 1955 pulp digest,  Imagination – Stories Of Science And Fantasy, offers a whimsical mid-century futuristic look at the then far-off year of 1990. The 1950s were abundant with delightfully optimistic and utopian visions of what future life would look like – works like this piece, titled Traffic Mishap, 1990, presented a idyllic vision of a future that despite its aliens and invisible cars retained the style and feel of mid-century America. The breezy mix of Automobilia car culture with a far fetched “alien close encounter” is wonderfully odd, and characteristic of the period, which is today remembered as “The Golden Age of Futurism.” The illustration shows a pin-up “Mac Girl” giving a piece of her mind to a green skinned alien driver who forgot to familiarize himself with the rules of the road on planet earth before taking his invisible car out for an ill advised spin. The “Terra 1990 A.D.” license plate on our heroines car is a particularly nice touch. McCauley loved working for The Greenleaf Publishing Company, and was a frequent illustrator for Imagination-Stories of Science Fiction, and their sister title, Imaginative Tales.  McCauley always tried to outdo himself with the high-spirited works he created for this publishing house, which he nicknamed Madge, we can see his immense commercial talent and artistic whimsy on display in this sparkling cover rendering. Adding to the personal charm of the work, McCauley–a devoted family man–posed his lovely wife Grace as the futuristic pin-up queen model. The artist seemed to take great joy in avoiding the violent undercurrents that were commonplace cover themes in the pulps, and instead consistently offered this sort of humorously absurd, spirited breezy imagery.

Framed view in handsome Larson-Juhl gallery frame
Framed view in handsome Larson-Juhl gallery frame

 

Detail
Detail

 

Frame corner profile view and artist signature lower right
Frame corner profile view and artist signature lower right

In all regards just a defining example, handsomely framed and sold with a complete edition of the Imagination Stories of Science And Fantasy – January, 1955.

The artist at work
The artist at work
Verso view before framing
Verso view before framing

Traffic Mishap, 1990

Artist: Harold McCauley
Price:  Sold

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, automobilia, Futuristic, Greenleaf Publishing, Harold McCauley, pin up, pulp, sci-fi, science fiction, The Golden Gallery
Added to Gallery: April 28, 2015

 

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    About Grapefruit Moon Gallery

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery, based in Minneapolis MN, specializes in vintage pin up and original illustration art.  We are the proud home of the Bunny Yeager archives.

    Since 2003, Grapefruit Moon Gallery has been a leading dealer of exclusive original paintings by Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Rolf Armstrong and Henry Clive, as well as vintage photographs, prints, and period decorative arts in ceramic and metal.

    All artworks featured are original, accurately represented, and guaranteed to be the work of the named artist.

    Interested buyers may view pieces by appointment and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. [Contact Us]

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