The Works of J.C. Leyendecker

[ArrowCollarMan]

This is one of my favorite artists. I came across his works while looking up references for clothing from 1912. Since then, I haveloved his works. He is an amazing artist and his drawings are done so well and so seemlessly it looks like they're about to move! I just needed to make a thread of his wonderful works of art!

...J. C. Leyendecker, the Golden Boy of American Illustration. He helped codify the modern image of Santa Claus. His Baby New Year covers for the Saturday Evening Post invented a pop culture icon. He was "the most out front closeted gay man of the twentieth century" - a hugely popular artist whose work was often clearly homoerotic. The young Norman Rockwell used to stalk him and once said, "Leyendecker was my god." In 1905, he created advertising's first male sex symbol, the Arrow Shirt Man, which "defined the ideal American male" for decades, got more fan mail than Valentino and inspired a 1923 Broadway play.

Arrg, I can't post anymore...too tired. But if anyone else has otehr pictures I'd welcome them into this thread :eusa_clap

 

[Brad Bowers]

I just found out about him a week or so ago, when I saw an article about an art show in the NY Times. I've been thinking about using this new avatar from one of his works since then, and now seems like a good time.

The boutonniere which the young lady is giving him has pansies in it, my wife's favorite flower. I'd like to get her a print of this piece if I can ever find one.

He was an incredible artist.

Brad

 

[scotrace]

You'll find his work scattered throughout The Fedora Lounge. He's a favorite of many of us.

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

Brad, you must send me that picture you have as your avatar! I can't seem to find very many new ones!

 

[BellyTank]

I'm a big fan of his work too-

JC Leyendecker and the Arrow Collar Man, Charles Beach, JCL's long term model, were lovers and lived together for many years.
Beach was recognised the World over and received more fan mail than his contemporaries, including Rudolf Valentino(Rodolfo). Beach was seen as the perfect example of the American Male in his prime, which was ironic at the time, considering his and Leyendecker's orientation and relationship.
Leyendecker also painted 40 works for an illustrated version of The Bible, which given the time, is also a little ironic. But it seems, for the most part, his 'secret life' was just that. If you look at the illustrations, you can observe an 'affection' for the male, which adds greatly to his works, especially given the context of 'Fashion' but also adds a romantic and somewhat 'patriotic' edge to his War posters and patriotic works. His style is magical and was, at the time, quite new and technical- his technique often employed exposed under-painting, which gave an extra depth in his work- heightened contrast- shadows and highlights working to make a painterly, yet graphical, realistic product. His style inspired many. There's fire in his work.


B
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[Zemke Fan]

Mine, too...

This is one of my favorite artists...

I use a couple of his illustrations in my avatar rotation. He really captures the romance of the era, doesn't he?

I'm a big fan of his work too...His style inspired many. There's fire in his work. BT

And fire in your pen... BT, that post of yours was lyrical, man. Glad to count you among my friends!

ZF

 

[BellyTank]

Yes in indeed-
perhaps in more way than one..

Happy weekend F.

B
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[scotrace]

Thanks for the bio BT. I had wondered about his orientation because he has such a remarkable passion and elegant way of capturing the strength and romance of the male ideal of the time. It's just wonderful stuff.

My favorite:

Did he single-handedly kill off the fashion for facial hair? I think he probably had a serious impact on popular perception of male beauty in the Jazz Age:

 

[Hemingway Jones]

I have seen his work, but never known his name.
Thanks for introducing this to me. I am now going to do some research.
He rather reminds me of Norman Rockwell crossed with Fred Astair!

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

I greatly admire the anatomy! As an "artist" I can appriciate the complexity of these drawings.

He really captures the romance of the era, doesn't he?

That I can agree with! I often use the advertisements he did and so on for references.

 

[herringbonekid]

it's funny you use the word 'fire' BT, because i find his work quite cold, in the way that technically brilliant work often is. maybe it's also because his figures are almost too statuesque to be real ... a feeling that the chiselled style only adds too.

 

[Brad Bowers]

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

Where did you get that? Were there any others?

 

[CharlieH.]

Now there's a name I won't forget! I've seen his work in a vintage issue of Colliers and I just loved it... well I only recall seeing the "3 rules about coffee" ad and the pic on SS Leviathan somewhere else. Thanks for the introduction!

 

[BellyTank]

it's funny you use the word 'fire' BT, because i find his work quite cold, in the way that technically brilliant work often is. maybe it's also because his figures are almost too statuesque to be real ... a feeling that the chiselled style only adds too.

Well... maybe not fire, in the passionate sense- "luminosity" then- maybe it's the way he paints light and shadow and uses colour and contrast. But there's something there, within that graphical style, which is very dramatic- drama..?

It's a very painterly, graphical, cartoon style...

I give up-

B
T

 

[herringbonekid]

don't get me wrong....i think they're amazing.

how did his career end ? did his style just drift out of fashion ?

 

[BellyTank]

No no... I know what you mean- "fire" was a dubious word.
His work is in the realm of graphic art- not ex/impressionism or what have you.
I agree with you actually.

B
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[Brad Bowers]

Where did you get that? Were there any others?

Nope, this was the only Leyendecker. I found it in a NY Times article. "Stories to Tell: Masterworks From the Kelly Collection of American Illustration" is at the Dahesh Museum of Art, 580 Madison Avenue, at 56th Street, (212) 759-0606, through May 21.

I'd love to see it. I'm like Hemingway Jones, I've admired his works, but never knew his name.

The girl in the picture is quite captivating!

Brad

 

[clevispin]

The Classic American Male???

I'm looking at these pictures and thinking Nazi propoganda posters. The "classic" male looks like something posted in an SS recruitment center. A lot of this stuff from this era was snobby anglophile dribble. That this "perfection" - probably surveyed with a set of German calipers - was seen from the perspective of a certain orientation also seems to validify that what "makes" a male goes far beyond chiseled features or fashion for that matter.

m

 

[BellyTank]

He was German...

Hmmm... and what nationality of tool is your dribble surveyed with..?

I disagree with all you have said here.
Just so's you know...

B
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