Dating to 1925, this golden age of illustration painting by the noted and prolific American artist Ralph Pallen Coleman illustrates a tense confrontation between a bobbed hair flapper and square jawed companion. Set aboard a ship at sea, the image hints that the vessel is heading into troubled waters, at least metaphorically.  The verso has publication notations indicating the magazine page (145) where this appeared, and also shows the slug text “Are You And I Alone On This Boat.” We have yet to determine the magazine title this illustration appeared in. Painting is handsomely framed in a fine wood gallery frame that accents the painting well.

Ralph Pallen Coleman was a Philadelphia-based painter who was prolific in the early 20th century. He was a member of The Society of Illustrators and The National Society of Mural Painters. His high water mark at auction was $11,000.00 in 2003.