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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Campbell’s Soup Kid Railroad Scene

Artist:School of Grace Drayton
Date:1933
Medium:Gouache on Illustration Board
Dimensions:Sight Size 8 1/2" x 10 3/4" Framed 14" x 16 1/2"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Campbell's Soup Advertising Art
Price: Sold
Full view of gouache on illustration board
Full view of gouache on illustration board
Above: Verso stamp with print date of 10/11/33
Detail
Detail

 

This delightful and whimsical 1930s original artwork comes from a collection of published Campbell’s Soup Kids illustrations. The Campbell’s Soup Kids appeared in print ads in countless American mainstream publications such as The Saturday Evening Post.  In this offering a Dolly Dingle-type character Campbell’s Soup Kid doubles as a railroad flagbearer with lantern ablaze attesting to the importance of the railroad in 20th century American history. Verso is stamped with a usage print date of 10/11/33. Painting is nicely matted and framed behind glass and ready to hang.

Along with Cream of Wheat and Coca-Cola, Campbell’s soup created some of the most iconic and duplicated advertising campaigns in twentieth century American advertising history. By the 1930s Campbell’s soup had a stable of illustrators that worked very closely in the style Grace Drayton developed for the Campbell’s Soup Kids characters. It is unknown whether this is by the hand of Grace Drayton or another American illustrator. A fresh Connecticut estate find and guaranteed to be an original published Campbell’s Soup illustration painting.

Detail
Detail
Above: Verso stamp detail
Full framed view
Full framed view

The Campbell Kids have been selling Campbell’s Soup since 1904 when Grace Wiederseim Drayton, an illustrator and writer, added some sketches of children to her husband’s advertising layout for a Campbell’s condensed soup. The Campbell advertising agents loved the child appeal and choose Mrs. Wiederseim’s sketches as trademarks. In the beginning, Campbell Kids were drawn as ordinary boys and girls, later, Campbell Kids took on the personas of policemen, sailors, soldiers, and other professions.

Grace Wiederseim Drayton will always be the “mother” of Campbell Kids. She drew for the company advertising for nearly twenty years. Drayton’s designs were so popular that doll makers wanted to capitalized on their popularity. Campbell’s gave the E. I. Horsemen Company the license to market dolls with the Campbell label on their sleeves. Horseman even secured two U.S. design patents for the dolls’ clothes.

Above: Andy Warhol’s iconic montage of Campbell’s Soup Advertising; Museum of Modern Art, NYC

Today, Campbell’s Soup Company, with its famous red and white label, remains a staple in the kitchen as well as American culture.

Campbell’s Soup Kid Railroad Scene

Artist: School of Grace Drayton
Price:  Sold

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1930s, advertising, american, Campbell's Soup Kids, cartoon, child, Grace Drayton, illustration, railroadiana
Added to Gallery: April 27, 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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