Yes, Andrew, it's a good illustration, my main purpose in showing it without having to wait for J.C. Leyendecker's birthday. I honestly don't think the artist, whose lifestyle reportedly was on the worldly side, meant anything religious by showing an angel. In that era of pop culture, what we think of as religious imagery was often used for secular purposes. There's a Three Stooges short that ends with the trio in Heaven! This illustration isn't meant to be funny, of course. The angel is a symbol of...well, read the sign that she's holding!
Strange to our eyes, Mitchell, because of a religious figure in a secular setting. But as I explained to Andrew, commonplace back in the day. Think of all the Old Hollywood movies (most of them comedies) that have angels coming to Earth. Those films are about as devout as the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
Happy Labor Day, good buddy! I hope you'll stay home, get some rest and spend the day stuffing yourself with turkey and guzzling Schlitz Malt Liquor as you watch the Lions battle the mighty Bears on the gridiron. Oops... wrong holiday!
I don't know what to make of that vintage illustration showing labor and management shaking hands on Labor Day. More typically, the union guy is on the picket line and the boss man is busy picking scabs (for jobs and promotions).
Have a restful holiday and a great week, good buddy Kirk!
Shady, look at the date on the magazine without trying to figure out Mike's age. 1947. Postwar America. The Great Depression is in the past. Blue-collar people can now afford to live in the suburbs. Blue-collar people are now members of the middle-class. Blue-collar people can now partake in the American Dream (which they really couldn't before World War II.) It's a very optimistic illustration. And for a long time that optimism was wholly justified. That it may no longer be justified is, I believe, why our politics have gotten so ugly in recent years. Illustrate that picture now, and you'd need not an angel but the Devil (and maybe some pilfered Top Secret documents strewn along the ground.)
Thank you, JM. The art is the main thing I wanted to focus on. Labor Day was just the excuse. J.C. Leyendecker was a very well-known (commercial) artist in his day, and I'll show more of his work in the future.
In order to keep the hucksters, humbugs, scoundrels, psychos, morons, and last but not least, artificial intelligentsia at bay, I have decided to turn on comment moderation. On the plus side, I've gotten rid of the word verification.
I wasn't quite a year old when that issue came out.
ReplyDeleteMike, you'll have to show us your baby pictures.
DeletePerhaps while on holidays the worker will walk the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail. It's a good illustration isn't it.
ReplyDeleteYes, Andrew, it's a good illustration, my main purpose in showing it without having to wait for J.C. Leyendecker's birthday. I honestly don't think the artist, whose lifestyle reportedly was on the worldly side, meant anything religious by showing an angel. In that era of pop culture, what we think of as religious imagery was often used for secular purposes. There's a Three Stooges short that ends with the trio in Heaven! This illustration isn't meant to be funny, of course. The angel is a symbol of...well, read the sign that she's holding!
DeleteAn interesting (strange) illustration.
ReplyDeleteStrange to our eyes, Mitchell, because of a religious figure in a secular setting. But as I explained to Andrew, commonplace back in the day. Think of all the Old Hollywood movies (most of them comedies) that have angels coming to Earth. Those films are about as devout as the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
DeleteHi, Kirk!
ReplyDeleteHappy Labor Day, good buddy! I hope you'll stay home, get some rest and spend the day stuffing yourself with turkey and guzzling Schlitz Malt Liquor as you watch the Lions battle the mighty Bears on the gridiron. Oops... wrong holiday!
I don't know what to make of that vintage illustration showing labor and management shaking hands on Labor Day. More typically, the union guy is on the picket line and the boss man is busy picking scabs (for jobs and promotions).
Have a restful holiday and a great week, good buddy Kirk!
Shady, look at the date on the magazine without trying to figure out Mike's age. 1947. Postwar America. The Great Depression is in the past. Blue-collar people can now afford to live in the suburbs. Blue-collar people are now members of the middle-class. Blue-collar people can now partake in the American Dream (which they really couldn't before World War II.) It's a very optimistic illustration. And for a long time that optimism was wholly justified. That it may no longer be justified is, I believe, why our politics have gotten so ugly in recent years. Illustrate that picture now, and you'd need not an angel but the Devil (and maybe some pilfered Top Secret documents strewn along the ground.)
DeleteNice art deco angel.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Debra. There's a lot of that in J.C. Leyendecker's work. I'll show more of his stuff someday.
DeleteIt looks good. Hope you had a good one Kirk :-D
ReplyDeleteIt's raining, but I still get the day off, Ananka, so yeah, it's good, and thanks.
DeleteLoving this art!! Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteThank you, JM. The art is the main thing I wanted to focus on. Labor Day was just the excuse. J.C. Leyendecker was a very well-known (commercial) artist in his day, and I'll show more of his work in the future.
Delete