Robert George Harris 1911 - 2007 - source
Walter Baumhofer 1904 - 1987 - source
Walter M. Baumhofer 1904 - 1987 - source
Robert Fawcett 1903 - 1967 - source
Walter M. Baumhofer
Saul Tepper 1899 - 1987 - source
Tom Lovell 1909 - 1997 - source
Edmund Franklin Ward 1892 - 1990 - source
Haddon Sundblom 1899 - 1976
Coby Whitmore 1913 - 1988- source
Dean Cornwell 1892 -1960 - source
Leslie Thrasher 1889 - 1936 - source
Robert G. Harris 1911 - 2007 - source
Edmund Franklin Ward 1892 - 1990 - source
Wonderful illustrated moments-in-melodrama - or at least, that's what I call them. The 1930's, 40's and 50's seemed ready-made for melodrama - it was the heyday of magazine illustration. Back then, most magazines contained stories, serials - even abridged novels - all usually needing an illustration or two. And there were plenty of talented illustrators who answered the call. I love 'the look' of these and enjoy imagining what was happening at that particular moment in fictional time.
Maybe it's time for another Fan-Fiction Fest?
Loved this post! The first illustration set the mood. Don't we all need some over-the-top emoting at times? I almost never do it, but I always feel so much better when I do!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Joan. Me, too! :) I always remember my daughter at fourteen or so being dramatic as only she could: leaning against a wall and emoting, "When will this torment end?" Yes, she actually said that. HA!! I think we'd heard it in some movie or other. I liked the line so much, I use it at least once a week. HA!
DeleteI love that story! I think I'll quote her, if she doesn't mind. I usually use Dorothy Parker's 'What fresh hell can this be?', but I like your daughter's better.
DeleteI like it too. :) I still use it. She doesn't seem too pleased when I remind her though. She always was the grumpy sort. Ha!
DeleteDear Yvette,
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the Golden Age of Illustration, which I fondly remember. The one name here I especially remember is that of Robert Fawcett, whose work I admired in a number of magazines. I think at the end of his career he was featured pretty regularly in Reader's Digest, which always has like to publish the stories of heroics for which Fawcett was so well suited. Thanks for the memories!
Fawcett is known as 'the illustrator's illustrator' - at least on line. But for me, all these artists are top notch. And there are many others I had to leave off or I could have gone on and on...
DeleteYvette, these are amazing illustrations. Like you, even I'm imagining what story each of these pictures tell. I can also visualise them as covers of mystery paperbacks.
ReplyDeleteWe agree, Prashant: they are amazingly good. So much drama captured so well. I'll bet we could make up stories to cover all of them. Maybe I'll set up a fan-fiction challenge. What do you think?
DeleteYvette, I think it's a good idea. It'll help me brush up my writing skills now that I'm pottering around in fiction.
DeleteGood idea, Prashant. Any writing is good writing when you're trying to get started.
DeleteIf you're thinking of one of those write a story based on the picture challenges, then I say YES! I like the Saul Tepper, the Dean Cornwell and either of the Robert Harris paintings as a springboard for a story idea. But you can pick any of these and I'll jump on it and come up with something suitably melodramatic if not outright frightening.
ReplyDeleteOkay then let me think on it for a bit. I'm thinking of picking three paintings to give the would-be writer some leeway. Don't want to be dictatorial about it all. :)
ReplyDeleteYvette, I'm loving these fabulous illustrations! I could put them all on our walls if I had enough, being a sucker for noir-type of images! :-) I especially loved the one by Robert G. Harris; it makes me think of "DIAL "M" FOR MURDER"! :-D Thanks for pictures, my friend!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Dorian. :) I hope you'll be joining in our Fan Fiction Fest coming up soon.
DeleteSounds like such fun but I can't write a lick! I'll love reading everyone else's though. Love the pictures!
ReplyDeleteWell, you could give it a try - you never know. Let me see what pix I'll pick to spur everyone on. :) Glad you enjoyed the post.
DeleteThese are wonderful, thanks Yvette some thrilling art here.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Sergio. :)
DeleteLove the illustrations, Yvette. From time to time, we visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, which often has exhibitions of works by other illustrators. They're great fun and surprisingly powerful and evocative even today.
ReplyDeleteOh these Golden Age illustrators were tops, Les. I think the Society of Illustrators in Manhattan also has Golden Age shows now and then.
DeleteThese are great fun. Some look like they came out of an Agatha Christie movie about murder and mayham among the British wealthy. And some look like they came from a 1940s movie.
ReplyDeleteA short-fiction writing assignment might be fun. Several of those illustrations would lend themselves to flash fiction.
And you daughter sounds like she was a riot at 14. I have to remember that line? Does she remember saying this? And if so, does she laugh about it today? (And just wait until her daughter is 14!)
I hope you'll be joining in, Kathy. :) My daughter was NO riot at 14. But enough said. Ha. We lived through it. Still I had to keep from laughing while she was emoting. It's so difficult with teenagers. They simply have NO sense of humor.
DeleteLove great illustrators. Maybe it's that period, they are
ReplyDeleteso dramatic.
yvonne
Drama personified. :) So many great illustrators working back then. At least we still have their work to admire.
Delete