Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

art deco

A darling and very Art Deco in aesthetic portrait of Mary Brian, the silent and early talkie era Hollywood film star. We do not have the specific usage of this oil on masonite painting but it was likely created as a cover for a late 1920s Hollywood Movie Magazine by the artist, who worked prolifically for a number of titles during the period. The china doll imagery was one which Clive favored, as it plays on the coquettish doll like charms of the flappers of the period. The painting is signed lower right and handsomely framed in a period wide profile antique frame behind glass.

Sue Carol with Boudoir Doll

Artist: Henry Clive

The Louis F. Dow Calendar Company of Saint Paul, Minnesota commissioned this pristine and rare surviving pin-up painting by Art Frahm for publication in their 1941 calendar line under the title “Three Point Landing.” The image shows an underdressed, startled redhead having an “oops” moment as her hammock string has broken causing her along with […]

Three Point Landing

Artist: Art Frahm

A whimsical art deco original gouache painting titled “La Coquette” by Alberto Vargas. An early work by the Peruvian born pin-up legend exploring the Commedia dell’arte revival that took hold around 1915, the cast of characters in this boldly colored and delightful Edwardian scene features the requisite maiden courted by a Harlequin with slapstick at his side as her guardian looks on in horror. Vargas brings a unique spin to this popular genre and his artistic mastery is apparent even at this early date. This was acquired by Charles Martignette in 1989 from the Vargas estate – the painting is accompanied by a series of Kodak color photographs (dated June 1989) taken by Martignette of this painting, also included are several color photographs of the artist and Martignette taken shortly before Vargas’ death in 1982.

La Coquette

Artist: Alberto Vargas

A 1942 original pastel on board by Cardwell Higgins created for an advertising display sign for “Adola Brassieres”. Higgins executed a series of these images all with erotically charged pin-up girl style and often times set in Hawaii as in this example. This is the only known surviving pastel from this campaign, the text on the die-cut display created from the artwork read “The Secret To a Lovely Figure”.

Secret To A Lovely Figure

Artist: Cardwell Higgins

In this fun and detailed published pen & ink illustration, an arch of beautiful Brinkley girls hover over a young man who sludges through the trials of life: childhood, school, higher education, and finally employment in an endeavor to find success in the form of riches and finally, a beautiful Brinkley girl to call his […]

Success

Artist: Nell Brinkley

In this fun and detailed published pen & ink illustration, an ethereal Brinkley beauty finds herself enchanted by the musical renderings of her guitar-playing suitor during a moonlit, rooftop rendezvous that encompasses the youthful, carefree romance of the Jazz Age. Nell Brinkley, the “Queen of Comics” and successful American illustrator and comic artist, was known […]

If All the World and Love Were Young

Artist: Nell Brinkley

 

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