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.
A streamlined and modernist look at the attractions and Futurama-inspired architecture that graced the 1939 – 1940 New York World’s Fair. This tremendous and bustling work is by the noted muralist, illustrator, and fine artist Andre Durenceau, who was hired with much fanfare to create murals for the Metals Building at this fair. […]
Artist: Andre Durenceau
This is a gritty Ashcan School-influenced Social Realist depiction of several wounded WW II-enlisted Navy Men reloading a rocket launcher while under heavy attack. A large watercolor-on-artists-paper by the very well listed Boston artist Henry O’Connor, who was a member of the Boston Art Club, president of the Artist Fellowship in New York City and The Salmagundi Club. O’Connor’s work appeared in McClure’s magazine, he illustrated several U.S. Navy books, and did presidential portraits of Roosevelt and his son.
Artist: Henry O'Connor
This is simply an electric in coloring and technique pastel and conté crayon large format erotic work by the well listed illustrator and fine artist Mahlon Blaine.
Artist: Mahlon Blaine
The Circle Of Life is an art deco allegorical avant-garde pen & ink drawing by Cardwell Higgins. This early offering by the renowned illustrator recalls the erotic and stylized work of British artist Aubrey Beardsley while considering man’s relationship to mortality. This is part of a series of similarly exotic and provocative drawings Higgins created between 1927 – 1929, which would much […]
Artist: Cardwell Higgins
An elegant art deco gouache-on-board created for General Motors who commissioned this work for their Cadillac ad campaign during the late 1920s-early 30s. This remarkable composition features a modernist, jazz age, formally attired woman flanked by majestic wolfhounds. She is shown entering a castle as her Cadillac touring sedan rests among palm trees in the background. Work is unsigned, in the manner of Edouard Benito or George Wolfe Plank.
Artist: Unknown
A climactic moment from the epic story of Don Quixote as depicted by by Willy Pogany. This is titled on verso in the artist’s hand “The Enchanters Put Don Q. In A Cage”. A commissioned “Golden Age of Illustration” work used in a 1920s adaptation of Don Quixote. Signed lower right beautifully framed and silk matted behind glass.
Artist: Willy Pogany
An action filled battle at sea original watercolor illustration painting by noted Hungarian born Golden Age Illustrator Willy Pogany. Used in a 1920s adaptation of Don Quixote, in this scene an alluring sea siren means certain death in this fantasy laden, impactful work that is beautifully framed and silk matted behind glass.
Artist: Willy Pogany
A large idyllic Americana “Happier Days” depiction by the prolific calendar artist and pin-up illustrator T.N. Thompson. This nostalgic 1950s image is titled Cleaning Compounds and is suffused with the warmth of that era. a well rendered, romantic depiction of unknown usage with a drag racing American Graffiti-esque appeal and a Norman Rockwell influenced take on life’s small joys. Nicely framed in original limed oak frame with brass label insert.
Artist: T. N. Thompson
This is a haunting watercolor by renowned book illustrator Willy Pogany. Marked on verso “Doll House Hell” this is a dark noir rendering of an evening on a boathouse. The pylons and trees are turning into monsters and even the sky appears to be weighing down on the lone boat. Pogany is best remembered for his illustrated volumes of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Artist: Willy Pogany
A moving gouache-on-board painting by Amos Sewell, this appeared as an interior illustration in the March, 1947 edition of Redbook magazine, accompanying a story by Peter Stirling Cardoza titled “Take Care of Jimmy.” This image shows a tearful farewell at a train window, dramatically and tenderly rendered by this well-listed and important American illustrator. Nicely framed and matted […]
Artist: Amos Sewell
