There are so many great items in the magazines to share, but, I decided to begin with a bit more fashion illustration. Aside from those still seen in the Sunday Times (also headed rapidly for distinction) the art of fashion illustration is sadly lost nowadays in the mainstream. The 1950's, however, was it's heyday!
Although the models were just as beautiful then as they are now, a fashion illustration could offer something most models could not: an impossible figure and posture! Take the woman above, for instance. This illustration, in a fashion context, is amazing! Beautifully drawn with great movement and style and drape to the clothing. And I love the hot pink background. But if you look at the woman, REALLY look at her, you can see that if she were real, her neck would be twice as long as a normal person's, her arms look like they could reach to her knees if straightened and she is missing about half her ribs. These things do not matter, however, as she is an illustration. Just like illustrated bird guides are the best reference for people looking to identify birds, illustrated fashion is wonderful for those selling wearable goods.
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A Hattie Carnegie illustrated advertisement from 1953. |
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All Andy Warhol illustrations courtesy Harper's Bazaar, March, 1955 |
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All Mary Suzuki illustrations courtesy Harper's Bazaar, August, 1953. |
These two ads for Hanes show a completely different aesthetic from any of those shown above or below, which is also what makes the modernist approach to illustration so exciting for 1950's fashion illustration. For more about this fascinating artist, click here.
I believe I found this image and the one below in the Vogue which dates to April, 1960. I love the flattened look of the above illustration. It retains the same basic silhouette as the more traditional drawings above, but, the simplified, flattened shapes, and, fact that the figure cuts-off the page in several places clearly shows a more abstract influence. Also, love the dress!
Also dating to 1960, this drawing has great technique and style but of course the beatnik theme is what I love, love, LOVE about it! Right down to the berets, checkered tablecloth and bottle of chianti...
I love the vintage art!
ReplyDeleteVery nice job.
Thanks for taking a look!
ReplyDelete-Christine
I love all the illustrations, but something about those Suzuki images really catches my eye. I love the way the colors are mixed and her layouts of the items make each one stand out. MOM
ReplyDeleteI was poking through some Esquires I found for Bill, but, found some Mary Suzuki in them as well so will need to post some additional illustrations! I also found some even nicer Andy Warhol in another Harper's Bazaar...
ReplyDeleteMy mother was Mary Suzuki and she did the Illustrations above. She was good friends with Andy in the 50s. He showed my mother his book when he arrived in New york and she told him to do shoes and got him some work with Harpers Bazaar. They co-illustrated "Amy Vanderbuilt's Book of Etiquette" She also gave him his first cat.
ReplyDeleteMary Suzuki was active in the 50s and 60s working for Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Seventeen Magazines.She was honored by the Society of Illustrators and was included in Marquise's Who's Who. She also participated in the first feminist art exhibition "Women Choose Women" at the Huntington Hartford Museum. She cited Ben Shaun and the Ashcan School as influences. She died in 1974 of cancer.
Wow, thank you so much for adding that information! I am so glad to be able to have some additional information about your mother and her work on the web. I will likely repost your info, along with those other illustrations I found in Esquire, to continue to educate people about her work. Again, many thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Christine
My apologies to Mary Suzuki's family member who tried to contact me; I thought I had posted an email on my blog but I was mistaken! Please contact me at carmenandginger@gmail.com if you wish to be in touch. I would very much like to hear more about your mother if you wish to share the info! I will not share any information without your permission. Regards, Christine
ReplyDelete