Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
A fun and breezy interior magazine illustration for Argosy magazine – July, 1946 by Ray Johnson illustrating a story titled “My Son’s Old Man” by Fred Malina. A classic Americana image featuring a soda jerk performing his then coveted job at a snappy modernist Art Deco styled soda fountain much to the delight of two lovely […]
Artist: Ray Johnson
Pulp illustrator James Lunnon created this oil on canvas painting of Norma Shearer for the September 1935 issue of Movies Magazine. The hair and styling seem to date this to the mid 1930s-the height of Shearer’s renown as the Queen of MGM, a title bestowed upon her in 1927 when she married Irving Thalberg. Unusually […]
Artist: James Lunnon
From the estate of the American artist James Lunnon, this is an unsigned proposed Black Mask pulp cover painting which was slated for publication in May of 1940. The yellow left side field is a telling trait and was unique to the title – this format was used between January 1937 to April of 1940, […]
Artist: James Lunnon
A dashing original pastel illustration, a scarce surviving Golden Age of Hollywood cover portrait of the lovely Marion Davies. Davies, a true film legend, is captured in an opulent and unabashedly art deco pose by frequent tinsel-town illustrator Charles Gates Sheldon. This large and inventive work was used as the March 1936 cover of “Movie Classic Magazine”. Pastel is in a fine original state of conservation and framed and matted behind glass in an an ornate gesso period antique frame.
Artist: Charles Sheldon
Joseph Pignone created this haunting and just mesmerizing gouache illustration painting for the July 1934 cover of Radio-Craft magazine. In this visually commanding original cover illustration from the machine age era of science and industry and modernist design aesthetics, a blind flapper girl with short bobbed hair holds a radio device that was created to guide the blind. Includes a printers proof tear sheet of the published magazine.
Artist: Joseph Pignone
Willy Müller-Gera (1887-1981) was a German artist and illustrator whose work is visible in museums across Europe. Müller-Gera is known for his etchings and landscapes of the pastoral German countryside as well as apocalyptic renderings such as this work. Titled Faun this is an unusual finely detailed artwork in a modernist, art deco, avant-garde aesthetic. Nicely framed in a period art deco antique frame and ready to enjoy.
Artist: Willy Müller-Gera
A whimsical and highly stylized 1926 original illustration by Brooklyn New York artist Clarence “Polly” Hill. An 18th Century Style French corseted Courtesan and her attendant. This work was seemingly originally intended for a perfume or toiletry commission. Similar in style to Brunellesci, George Lepape, Eduardo Benito, George Plank and Erte whose work appeared in such periodicals as Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair and Vogue magazines.
Artist: Clarence Polly Hill
A large, inventive, and whimsical oil painting featuring a nude goddess disguised within a snow covered mountain landscape. Signed by the well-listed artist Sigurd Skou, verso is titled “Hills in Norway.” Skou was born in Norway and studied with Anders Zorn in Stockholm and Paris. Throughout his career he traveled extensively and truly lived the artist’s life staying active in bohemian circles in New York, France and Chicago.
Artist: Sigurd Skou
Two squared jaw toughs slug it out as a pretty redhead damsel in distress looks on in this classic pulp cover painting for sale at Grapefruit Moon Gallery.
Artist: Mel Phillips
A stylish and decidedly art deco cover illustration for the September 9th, 1939 issue of Liberty magazine, painted by the prolific illustrator Victor Tchetchet. Depicting a Carole Lombard-esque blonde bombshell in a Diana the Huntress mythological pose. Dedicated and inscribed to the fabled Hollywood film producer Otto Preminger, as seen lower right. Painting has been handsomely […]
Artist: Victor Tchetchet
