Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 8
Joseph Christian LeyendeckerPlaying Hooky, Post Cover1914
1914
$490,000
£372,777.33
€435,891.07
CA$685,286.78
A$769,841.94
CHF 409,701.05
MX$9,519,391.22
NOK 4,992,253.80
SEK 4,826,793.01
DKK 3,251,339.94
Shipping
Retrieving quote...The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation
About the Item
Signed by Artist Signed Lower Center
The Saturday Evening Post cover, June 13, 1914
LITERATURE:
L.S. Cutler and J.G. Cutler, J.C. Leyendecker, American Imagist, New York, 2008, p. 118, illustrated.
A gifted and inimitable draughtsman, Joseph Christian Leyendecker stands as a principal figure in the Golden Age of Illustration. As the inventor of the Arrow Collar Man, he defined dapper dressing and everyday activity for the entire prewar generation, and as the creator of more than 300 covers for The Saturday Evening Post, he revolutionized modern magazine design and chiefly informed Norman Rockwell's wistful vision of America.
A sensitive observer, Leyendecker also created poignant, whimsical works capturing the antics of children, as evidenced by his iconic, recurring New Year's Baby created exclusively for The Post. To many collector and historians, Leyendecker's scenes of children are some of the finest of his entire oeuvre. Playing Hooky of 1914 typifies Leyendecker's masterful ability to story--tell using a solitary figure as his subject-a precocious young boy enjoying some fishing time while cutting school--rendered in his distinctive staccato painting style.
By 1926, when The Saturday Evening Post went to four-color printing, which reproduced his paintings in all their creative and technical splendor, Leyendecker was the most famous illustrator in America. The artist understood not only how to paint, but also how to present a clear message to his audience at the newsstand in an instant. Of all the Golden Age Illustrators, Leyendecker perhaps understood best how much to include in his composition, but more importantly, he understood restraint, and how much to leave out, in order to get his message clearly across.
On the subject of magazine covers, Leyendecker told The Post:
"A cover is a poster; and more related to murals, even sculptures, than to illustration. It should, therefore, tell its story on one plane, be without realistic perspective and distance.... A cover that carries an explanatory legend defeats itself...The editor prefers the cover to the simple picture because the cover sells more copies of his magazine. It sells more copies because it carries further and hits harder. It hits harder because it is a symbol; it is concentrated and says what it has to say in a straight line. It carries further because a good cover has a distinct silhouette. The reader will notice it at a greater distance. And though he can't make out the design, still the design will pull him in." (as quoted in K. Steine and F.B. Taraba, The J.C. Leyendecker Collection: American Illustrators Poster Book, Portland, Oregon, 1995, p. 12)
In the present work a darling young boy, blonde hair tousled and pantleg patched, sits on a dock with his schoolbooks abandoned beside him, excitedly waiting for a catch. His glee is unmistakable, knowing that his parents are none the wiser to his skipping-school-escapade. Positioned up close on the picture plane, one cannot help but notice the spectacular rendering of various textures evident in the painting, from the crop of blonde hair to the creased jacket and pants, to the smooth shiny surface of the beat up can holding his bait. The simple yet effective scene is skillfully rendered in rich reds, browns, and yellows, applied with Leyendecker's hallmark cross-hatching technique. The result is a highly refined, wonderfully descriptive snapshot of a moment that every person who misbehaved in childhood can appreciate.
Playing Hooky was painted in 1914, the same year as 'Beat-up Boy, Football Hero' which established a new auction record for artist when it sold for a staggering $4,121,250 at Heritage Auctions in May 2021. it is likely that the same boy served as a model for this work. Additionally, the present work has a similarly interesting history: The consignor's father, while helping clean out the artist's home following his death, saved the work from destruction in 1951 when Leyendecker's sister was destroying his works and selling his art for a pittance in New Rochelle, New York.
- Creator:Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874 - 1951, American)
- Creation Year:1914
- Dimensions:Height: 30.25 in (76.84 cm)Width: 21 in (53.34 cm)
- Medium:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Fort Washington, PA
- Reference Number:Seller: 45681stDibs: LU384312317072
Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Joseph Christian "J.C." Leyendecker was born in Germany in 1874. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1882. His eldest brother, Adolph, became a prominent stained glass artist, and Joe, as he was called, had an early artistic calling.
After studying at the Chicago Art Institute under John H. Vanderpoel, J.C. Leyendecker enrolled at the Académie Julien in 1896, where he studied for a year with his younger brother Frank in the Beaux-Arts tradition. During his time there, he was exposed to and influenced by the works of Art Nouveau painters and printmakers Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jules Chéret and Alphonse Mucha, with whom he formed a strong friendship. The next year, he staged his first one-man exhibition at the Salon du Champ-de-Mars and made the auspicious acquaintance of Paul Gauguin.
In 1898, Leyendecker produced the first of 48 covers for Collier’s magazine. The next year, he painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post magazine, which was the beginning of a 44-year association with that esteemed publication. Throughout his career, he would also paint covers for Life magazine, illustrations for a library of books, and transform advertising for such companies as B. Kuppenheimer & Co. and Interwoven Socks. His work for Arrow Shirt is the most well-known and beloved.
Using his lover and manager, Charles Beach, as a model, Leyendecker created the ultimate image of modern American masculinity. His work for Kuppenheimer, also known as the House of Kuppenheimer, is just as iconic. Founded in 1876, the company became the manufacturer of uniforms for the United States Army during World War I. Thanks to Leyendecker's advertising, the firm became synonymous with the ultimate in male taste and desirability.
Unfortunately, near the end of his career, as Leyendecker’s associations with Collier’s and The Saturday Evening Post came to an end, his work fell into obscurity. When he died in 1951, his great friend Norman Rockwell, who commemorated their relationship in his painting Waiting for the Art Editor, served as one of his pallbearers.
Find original J.C. Leyendecker prints and paintings on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by M.S. Rau)
About the Seller
5.0
Recognized Seller
These prestigious sellers are industry leaders and represent the highest echelon for item quality and design.
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1995
1stDibs seller since 2016
126 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 3 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Fort Washington, PA
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View AllThe Rescue, original cover illustration for Complete Northwest Magazine
By William R. Leigh
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Cover Illustration for Complete Northwest magazine, April 1940
Exhibitions: It's a Man's World, Illustration Art by and for Men: November 14-17 2012, Illustration House NYC
Category
1940s American Modern Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
"“Her silent fear hurt David unendurably" Cosmopolitan Story Illustration
By William Henry Dethlef Koerner
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Story illustration for “The Flower of the Flock” by Jay Gelzer for Cosmopolitan, published August 1921, pages 74-75
The Post describes the tale as “The story of a Kentucky mountain...
Category
1920s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
'The Dead Ride Hard'
By Mead Schaeffer
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Date: 1926
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 28.00" x 30.00"
Framed Dimensions: 35⅛ x 39⅛ in.
Signature: Signed Lower Left
Magazine story illustration for "The Dead Ride Hard," for ...
Category
1930s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
“Last Gun of the Confederacy, ” CSS Shenandoah, Illustration for Reader’s Digest
By John Ford Clymer
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Story illustration for “Last Gun of the Confederacy” by Charles E. Hinkson published in Reader’s Digest, September 1964, pages 58-59. Original copy of magazine included.
The illustr...
Category
1960s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Board
Little Girl Running from Waves, Original cover for The Saturday Evening Post
By Sarah S. Stilwell Weber
Located in Fort Washington, PA
The Saturday Evening Post Magazine, July 23, 1921 (cover illustration).
Sarah Stilwell-Weber is celebrated for her captivating illustrations of children. While her early work often ...
Category
1920s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Oil, Linen, Panel
Woman with Bird, Advertisement for Treo Elastic Girdles, circa 1923
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Original advertisement for the Treo Girdle Company, published in the October 1923 issue of McCall’s Magazine, page 93, and likely in other publications as well.
This original adver...
Category
1920s Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
You May Also Like
Oil on Canvas “Cabo Azul 3”
By Frank Arnold
Located in Fresno, CA
“Cabo Azul 3” is 43” x 36”. Frank Arnold’s paintings exhibit the highest quality materials for a truly archival piece, created to last generations. Much of Frank Arnold’s work is so...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Mod 7
By Frank Arnold
Located in Fresno, CA
“Mod 7” is 20”x 16”. The heavy handed application of pigment renders an impasto portrait from another place in the deeper mind of the artist. Frank Arnold is one of the foremost abst...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
$6,800
Oil on Canvas “Understander 8” by abstract-figurative artist, Frank Arnold
By Frank Arnold
Located in Fresno, CA
Frank Arnold is thought by many to be one of the foremost abstract figurative painters and sculptors of our time. He is a living master whose work is considered to be both personal a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Paintings
Materials
Oil
Oil on Canvas “Arroyo 14”
By Frank Arnold
Located in Fresno, CA
" Arroyo 14" is 72” x 60”. A rich sienna and ochre figure centered on a textured field of light yellows and beige. Frank Arnold’s paintings exhibit the highest quality materials for ...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Oil on Canvas “Azul Paseo”
By Frank Arnold
Located in Fresno, CA
Frank Arnold is thought by many to be one of the foremost abstract figurative painters and sculptors of our time. He is a living master whose work is considered to be both personal a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Abstract Paintings
Materials
Oil
Oil on Canvas “Black 5” by abstract-figurative artist, Frank Arnold
By Frank Arnold
Located in Fresno, CA
" Black 5" is 36” x 36”. Solo figure, head and shoulders in bold white outline. Frank Arnold’s paintings exhibit the highest quality materials for a truly archival piece, created to ...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Oil
More Ways To Browse
Antique Christian Art
Antique Book Covers
New Order Poster
New Rochelle
Antique Oregon
Antique Football
Football Poster
Antique Fishing Line
Cropped Evening Jacket
L J Cross
Football Sculpture
Leyendecker Arrow
Jose Lopez
Mango Painting
Penguin Classic
19th Century Procession Paintings
Betsy Brown Paintings
Bob Ross Originals