Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
At the turn of the 20th century, Industrial Revolution inventions brought technological advancements to printmaking that ushered in a Golden Age of American illustration. Publishers and calendar companies developed new techniques for producing multi-color offset lithographs that were fast, affordable, and flat-out glorious to view, blurring the distinction between fine art and "art for commerce." The best examples by the finest commercial illustrators were revered by the public, and today are beloved by collectors.
Calendar art by Philip Boileau By the time Philip Boileau created this pastel on board calendar illustration, he was already one of the most popular "pretty girl" postcard artists working. This example, which was copyrighted under the title Lady In Blue features a blue-eyed Edwardian maiden looking over her shoulder daringly at the viewer, and is […]
Artist: Philip Boileau
Price: $3,500.00 $2,625.00
A Flapper Beauty by Haskell Coffin On offer is a lovely, masterfully rendered pastel by the prolific American artist and illustrator Haskel Coffin. The image shows a stylized blue eyed flapper girl dressed for an evening on the town with a beaded roaring twenties dress and a jade green wrap and necklace. This pastel was […]
Artist: Haskell Coffin
Price: $3,850.00 $2,887.50
Flapper Girl with Fan by Charles Allan Gilbert On offer is a lovely pastel illustration by C. Allan Gilbert. It depicts a stylish flapper girl in a pretty beaded black dress with a large ostrich plume hand fan. It is our hunch that was created for the calendar market. It is signed in the upper […]
Artist: Charles Allan Gilbert
Price: $4,500.00 $3,375.00
Victorian Cover Art by Archie Gunn This is a large format and racy (for the times) Victorian cover illustration for the long-running weekly periodical Truth Magazine. Created by illustrator Archie Gunn, this appeared as the cover for the January 13, 1894 edition with a title of "How Those Girls Love One Another". Two girlfriends are […]
Artist: Archie Gunn
Price: $1,850.00 $1,387.50
American Magazine cover art by Earl Christy This is a lovely pastel illustration by American artist and illustrator Earl Christy. Showing a delicate flapper beauty holding wispy flowers to her breast in classic romantic fashion, this was used as cover art for The American Magazine, May 1923. A complete issue of the magazine is included in […]
Artist: Earl Christy
Price: $6,500.00 $4,875.00
This large and enchanting pastel was created by the American illustrator J. Knowles Hare as advertising calendar art for Sunshine Biscuits.
Artist: J. Knowles Hare
Price: $3,950.00 $2,962.50
Redbook Cover by Haskell Coffin This romantic and dreamy pastel by the important pretty girl illustrator Haskell Coffin appeared as the cover of the July 1923 edition of Redbook magazine. In the 1920s, Redbook was one of the premiere fiction magazines in the country, with stories by authors ranging from Jack London to Edith Wharton. […]
Artist: Haskell Coffin
Price: $5,500.00 $4,125.00
Neysa McMein advertisement for Wallace Silver This stunning and expertly rendered pastel by Jazz Age illustrator Neysa McMein appeared as advertising for the R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co.'s line of silver plate. Connecting the elegance of McMein's flapper beauty to the idealized "perfect hostess", this provides a wonderful window into what was considered "the […]
Artist: Neysa McMein
Price: $5,500.00
Henry Vallely for Rit Dye Henry Vallely created this portrait style illustration of a charming flapper in a winter hat as advertising art for Rit Dye. The company was founded in 1918, and was one of the first domestic manufacturers of fabric dye for at home use. According to their website the founder named the […]
Artist: Henry Vallely
Price: $2,500.00 $1,875.00
Maiden illustration by Carle Blenner This original oil on canvas painting by the German - American portrait artist and illustrator Carle Blenner shows a flushed and erotically charged image of a brunette Victorian maiden. This work is beautifully executed--the subject's gaze is mesmerizing, her skin tones are spectacular, and we love the stylish hair pin […]
Artist: Carle J. Blenner
Price: $3,950.00 $2,962.50
Co-ed beauties by Haskell Coffin On offer is a lovely masterfully rendered pastel by the prolific American artist and illustrator Haskel Coffin. The image shows demure yet confident beaming pert flapper beauty peering over her left shoulder. Though this appears to be untitled, it is known as "The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi," and likely created […]
Artist: Haskell Coffin
Price: $3,950.00 $2,962.50
The Underwood American Girl Calendar - The Girl of the West This large Clarence Underwood gouache painting appeared as the first page in the 1908 Underwood American Girl Calendar with the title "The Girl Of The West". The calendar was published by The Frederick A. Stokes Company. The image features a handsome young enlisted soldier […]
Artist: Clarence F. Underwood
Price: $3,500.00 $2,625.00
