Illustration & Advertising Art

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 very rare surviving cast bronze decorative plaque commemorating America’s Sesquicentennial Celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. This depicts the founding fathers at the Signing of Independence with an idealized stylized Lady Liberty, and bears the title ‘We The People.’ The image was created by the beloved American Historic Illustrator Howard Chandler Christy. This is a very rare historic piece in a WPA aesthetic from the Golden Age of American Illustration.

We The People

Artist: Howard Chandler Christy

Grapefruit Moon Gallery is happy to offer an original gouache illustration likely used as the final preliminary study for the cover of the May 17th, 1930 Edition of Judge Magazine. Verso reads “Cover for Judge, Joseph Morgan.” Work is in a John Held Jr. jazz age, modernist style with a flapper girl enduring the attention of an over zealous Soda Fountain attendant. The smaller sight size leads us to believe this is not the completed cover, but it is the most fun you can have in the world of Illustration art for $850.00.

The Soda Jerk

Artist: Joseph Morgan

A humorous moment in the midst of the Great Depression is the subject of this Liberty Magazine (November 21, 1931) original cover painting by Leslie Thrasher. Titled “Second From The Right” the cover chronicles the continuing story of “Sandy and Lil”, who frequented the cover of Liberty magazine in scenes from their typically 1920s courtship, wedding and early married life. This artwork (as explained in short interior story) finds the couple’a finances wiped out in the recent stock market crash. A neighbor (a rich lawless bootlegger!) turns up with a pair of complimentary tickets to The Follies and Sandy finds a particular showgirl much to his liking “second to the right.”

Second From The Right

Artist: Leslie Thrasher

A large and deftly rendered interior illustration painting by beloved American Illustrator James Montgomery Flagg. Created for a 1920s edition of Hearst’s Magazine. A young jazz age couple who find themselves with 3 young children are pondering their sleep deprived chaotic extistence with “Twisted Hearts”. Flagg was a wildly popular prolific illustrator who is best known for creating The Uncle Sam characterization that has become an iconic American part of history. Work is nicely matted and framed.

A Twisted Heart

Artist: James Montgomery Flagg

A delightful original circa 1915-1925 gouache commercial illustration of unknown use and origin, showing a well articulated Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman and an Indian Chief in traditional headdress, both on horseback, envisioned in the vast expanses of The Canadian Rocky Mountains. This fine old gouache illustration painting is framed in a handsome wide profile antique period frame.

R.C.M.P. & Indian Chief

Artist: Unknown

A smartly rendered pin-up girl gag watercolor cartoon for Esquire Magazine by noted African American cartoon artist and illustrator E. Simms Campbell. Gag features a Bedouin trader desert scene with a harem girl, tagline reads “Personally, I think the camel is a much smarter buy”. Work is ink stamped by Esquire Magazine on the verso and signed by the artist lower right.

The Camel is a Smarter Buy

Artist: E. Simms Campbell

An exquisite stylized, modernist, French art deco mixed media work in subdued muted tones by Edouard Sureau. In pastel and gold gilt paint, this features a delicately rendered muse with halo enraptured by a musical lyre. The top of the instrument forms a cross and the figure itself forms an angelic allegory, of the style popular in the art deco decorative arts. Work is signed and in a fine state of preservation nicely matted, framed, and ready to hang.

A Modernist Muse

Artist: Edouard Sureau

A macabre gouache rendering by Mahlon Blaine for an as of yet undetermined publication. A highly charged noir erotic scene depicting a Vaudeville era Burlesque performer in allegorical temptation scene. The devil, with serpent’s tongue is shown behind a nude dancer representing temptation. The two figures left and right are shown as stand ins for good and evil. Blaine was a unique talent, and counter culture avant-garde artist who worked outside of the confines of the mainstream.

Demonized Burlesque Dancer

Artist: Mahlon Blaine

A captivating and well rendered glamour girl commercial illustration by Haddon Sundblom for Schlitz Beer. Image shows a pretty, spirited gardener quenching her thirst with a cold beer. A classic Americana image, acquired from the estate of illustrator Albert Berwinkle, who worked with Sundblom on advertising campaigns in Illinois. Berwinkle traded some of his own artwork with his friend “Sunny” and this piece was given to Berwinkle by Sundblom. Artwork is unsigned but guaranteed to be the work of Haddon Sundblom.

A Pause that Refreshes

Artist: Haddon Sundblom (attributed)

A wonderful original oil on canvas used as a poster design for the 1937 Warner Bros. Western film starring Dick Foran titled Prairie Thunder. Illustrated in this work are Albert J. Smith, Janet Shaw and Jim Corey. Ratterman was a gifted illustrator whose work appeared in many of the major “slick magazines” as advertisements and/or covers.

Prairie Thunder

Artist: W. G. Ratterman

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