Two for Five – A Gouache Illustration by Michael Silver

Up for sale is a wholesome and nostalgic gouache painting by American artist and illustrator Michael Silver.

A classic mid-century, glossy magazine illustration, this winsome artwork features a handsome hardware store clerk with a chiseled jaw, blonde hair, and bright white teeth who is overjoyed to be helping his latest customer, a young, pretty, blonde sweater girl. The pair share flirtatious glances from across the store counter as the young girl rolls a leather washer around between her fingers like she just might slip it on her ring finger. The store clerk happily offers her up a box of more washers.

Two for Five was published in the November 10, 1945 issue of Collier’s magazine. It accompanies a short story of the same name by Frank O’Rourke. A copy of this magazine is included in the sale.

This artwork was done with gouache on illustration board and has been professionally matted.

Illustration is signed by the artist in the upper right corner of the artwork.