The Loves of Carmen

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Artist's signature, lower right

One of the most prolific yet unheralded American pulp, advertising, and pin-up illustrators of the 20th Century; Cardwell Higgins is admired for his inventive and provocative covers for Depression-era spicy pulp titles. He created a wide-ranging body of work that spanned genres, styles, and generations of trends.

This stunningly gorgeous pen & ink combines sharp lines with detailed pointillism to create a romantic scene of Spanish lovers, amorous in their heady gazes and gripping, familiar touches. A beautifully rendered scene of Hollywood actors Dolores del Rio and Don Alvarado in a promotional illustration for William Fox's silent drama "The Loves of Carmen" (1927).

This pen & ink drawing is matted to an image area of 10" x 11" and has been signed by the artist in the bottom right corner. There is some paper tanning, light soiling, and light paper buckling. This amazing piece of illustrative Hollywood history came from the estate of Charles Martignette, an art dealer and collector who had amassed one of the finest collections of American illustration art.

Detail view

Framed view