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Jessie Willcox Smith
The Young Scholar, Original cover for Good Housekeeping magazine, October 1922

1922

$129,000
£97,508.02
€112,054.05
CA$179,631.70
A$199,832.91
CHF 104,754.92
MX$2,441,909.40
NOK 1,333,923.17
SEK 1,255,704.12
DKK 836,440.90
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About the Item

Original cover for Good Housekeeping, published October 1922. The Young Scholar, reproduced on the cover of the October 1922 issue of Good Housekeeping, demonstrates Jessie Willcox Smith's exceptional ability to capture the delicate beauty and innocence of childhood. This tender, contemplative moment is characteristic of Smith's work, which often explored children's growth, their learning experiences, and the rich inner world of their imaginations. Here, we observe the quiet concentration of a young girl as she practices her letters. With her tousled hair and rosy cheeks, she embodies the vulnerability and focus of early education. Smith's mixed media technique adds a subtle texture, particularly noticeable in the child's sweater, while also imbuing the scene with a dreamlike, hazy quality, as if it were a fondly recalled memory. The soft lines and warm, muted palette further enhance the nostalgic feeling, showcasing Smith's signature gentle style from this period. Jessie Willcox Smith was one of the most popular illustrators of the twentieth century, and her work graced the pages of children’s books and leading publications like Ladies’ Home Journal, Collier’s, and Good Housekeeping. Though Smith never married and had no children of her own, she had a keen ability to render sensitive depictions of children, adeptly capturing their subtle expressions and gestures to form a poetic and romanticized vision of childhood that continues to resonate with viewers today.
  • Creator:
    Jessie Willcox Smith (1863 - 1935, American)
  • Creation Year:
    1922
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Fort Washington, PA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 47921stDibs: LU384315752662

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