Influence of economic and social changes on illustration

History Of Illustration

Illustration and the Influence of Social Change and the Economy

Illustrators provide their audience with a glimpse into the workings of the society in which they live. Whether they choose satire or take a serious approach to the world around them, illustrators reflect the economic and social climate in which they live. The work of illustrators reaches the mass market through newspapers, magazines and illustrated book that are consumed by vast numbers of readers. Illustration is more than a picture, it gives voice to the ideals that underlie society and higher conscious thought. Throughout the years, the technology and mediums available to illustrators has changed, but their connection to societal and economic times has not. This research will explore the history of illustration and will track changes through major works from the 1850s through present day.

Early Works (1859-1900)

The U.S. Civil was a time great upheaval and change on many levels of society. The Civil War shook the very core of American society. It meant the end of many old ideals, such as slavery, and brought the introduction of new ones, such as equality and justice for all. The Civil War meant the end of the plantation and the rise of the industrial age. The need for illustrators increased as the public needed records of the events that took place. Illustrators provided and important part of the war record with their scenes of battles, defeats, victories, and political and military leaders (Reed and Reed 2008, 2). Photography was still a new technology and many illustrators still relied on engraving to record the events of this early era (Reed and Reed 2008, 2).

Illustrators such as Frederick Sackrider Remington gave America a view of the main cast of characters that made up the era. His subjects included soldiers, Indians, and cowboys in action poses. This famous picture of the Uprising of the Yaqui Indians -- Yaqui Warriors in Retreat is an excellent example of his work. However, this is atypical in that it is in black and white. Much of Remington's work was in realistic color. However, this picture still captures many of the other elements of his style.

Uprising of the Yaqui Indians- Yaqui Warriors in Retreat, Frederick Sackrider Remington, 1896.

Felix Octavius Carr Darley gave Americans a realistic view of the Civil War. He demonstrated the turmoil and hardships of the war. This rendition of Shermans' march to the seas was painted in 1883, almost 20 years after the event. It is not known if this represents a scene that was witnessed by the artist or if it is his rendition taken from historical accounts. It depicts the desire for realistic representations that marked illustrations of the era. On the March to the Sea. Felix Octavius

Carr Darley, 1883.

The Golden Age of Illustration (1900-1910)

The first decade of the 20th century signaled the rise of the American corporation and the Golden Age of Illustration. New technology was used to spread the winds of social change. Illustrators found their voice in population magazines such as Harper's, Scribner's, McCall's, and Collier's. These magazines told the masses what to wear, how to act, and what products to purchase. Magazines and their illustrators became instruments to facilitate societal change. Vogue, All-Story, and the Delineator were launched to attract niche markets. All of these new magazines meant and increase in work for artists who could draw anything, As competition in the magazine industry increased, illustrators with a unique style a fresh perspective were in high demand (Reed and Reed 2008, 6).

Jesse Wilcox Smith was a female illustrator who began work in the production department of The Ladies Home Journal ("Jesse Wilcox Smith," 2000). Her works Appeal to women. She was formally trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Many of her works featured women and children performing every day domestic tasks. Her works became icons when she did ads for products such as Campbell's Soup, Cream of Wheat, and the Red Cross.

Have You A Red Cross Service Flag? Jessie Wilcox Smith, date unknown

Illustrators continued to picture their subjects in a realistic manner with great attention to detail, His style was slightly more cartoon-like than other illustrators of his time. The following is one of his first published pictures in Life magazine.

Silas, Winsor McCay, date unknown

Recruiting and Americanism (1910-1920)

The biggest event during this time was World War I. This event drew Americans into the global war. Illustrators were used to help fuel the war through their production of slogans and recruiting tools. Illustrators became an important part of the war effort, as they were used by the government to intentionally affect social change and to muster support for the war efforts.

Magazines added a personal element to their publication, including a 'Letters" section where their editors could interact with the public (Reed and Reed 2008, 7). Readers were quick to point out any inaccuracies. Descriptions in the text had to accurately match the illustration. The illustrator was solely responsible for any inaccuracies. Rather than working from a model, illustrators began to work from posed photographs (Reed and Reed 2008, 7). This gave their work a more realistic look.

It was during this time, that one of the most famous images in American History was produced. James Montgomery Flagg's U.S. Army recruiting poster is still used as an American iconic image today.

Army Recruiting Poster, James Montgomery Flagg, 1917

Here is another example of a work commissioned by the United States Treasury Department.

Poster For U.S. Treasury Department. Charles Livingston Bull. Date unknown.

The Roaring Twenties (1920-1930)

The theme of the earlier part of this decade was let the good times roll. WWI had a positive effect on the economy. Magazines such as the New Yorker and the Saturday Evening Post highlighted the up-beat attitude of the times. It was an era where glamour ruled for those who could afford it. Illustrators were quick to flaunt America's riches for the entire world to see. However, in 1929, illustrators would portray a differ America, one that was not so happy go lucky. The beginning of the Great Depression sent America reeling on a journey that would span the next decade.

Illustrators became worldlier as the social climbers were attracted to images from other places. Chicago led the style in illustration, while other drew their inspiration from European painters (Reed and Reed 2008, 8). The American taste for things exotic was insatiable and illustrators gave it to them. The following story illustration from Cosmopolitan magazine demonstrates the preference for exquisite taste and finery of the period.

Couple In Parlor. Dean Cornwell, 1920.

Saul Tepper also captured the opulence of the era.

Title Unknown. Saul Tepper. 1926.

Starving Artists, Starving Everywhere (1930-1940)

The stock market of 1929 signaled the end of the good times for America. The Great Depression brought a time of want and despair that has not been equaled since. The market suffered and jobs disintegrated as winds swept away dreams across the Great Plains. The dust bowl was only one of America's problems. America's mood was one of desperation. Work for illustrators became scarce. Work for everyone became scarce. During this time, the WPA helped artists survive by hiring them for government projects. They used illustrators to try to lift the spirits of America. Meanwhile a growing menace was taking hold in Europe, one that would cause great cataclysm turn the tides of society forever.

A few stars of the decade past managed to survive. The works of Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish, and John LaGatta did not feel the crunch, but the works of unknowns faded into the past (Reed and Reed 2008, 9).

Sweet Consolation. John Lagatta. 1930.

Gallery artists found that they had many lookers, but no takers as American pockets wore thin (Reed and Reed 2008, 9). Illustration attempted to lift the spirits of American through refusing to portray the woes of the masses.

Hollywood focused on escapism, adventure, and high society films as a way to relieve the tension (Reed and Reed 2008, 9).

Portrait of Madame M. Tamara de Lempika. 1933.

World War II and Relief (1940-1950)

It is difficult to think of war as a relief. However, for the American economy, that is exactly what World War II brought. While the war brought great tragedy, it also brought jobs and a feeling of unity for Americans. While the boys were away fighting against oppression, new economic opportunities opened up for social groups that were previously on the fringes of the economy. Women and those who were not fit to go to war worked at home to support the war efforts. Men in uniform were the most popular subjects of the time (Reed and Reed 2008, 10).

They now had money to spend. The demand for illustrators and artists surged, as companies fought for the biggest share of money (Crow 2006, 70). Advertising reached a new high and everyone wanted their piece of the American pie. When the war ended and the boys came home, they came home to a world different from the one that they left. They went into a spending frenzy that would carry them though the next decade. They bought houses, started families and settled down to a life of normalcy after a decade of chaos. Illustrations began to return to resemble that of fine are of earlier times.

The Invitation. Ben Stahl. Date unknown magazine photo. Al Parker. Date unknown

Rise of the Atomic Age (1950-1960)

The prosperity that came with the end of the war continued into the new decade. Americans attempted to settle into a life or normalcy. There was a significant return to traditional gender roles, as many women were forced back into the household and the men went off to work as usual. Women, now used to providing for themselves represented a new target market. To fill their days they read the "seven sisters" (McCall's, Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Seventeen, and Women's Day). These magazines began to dictate how life should be, adding to the feeling of comfort and normalcy. Set against the backdrop of the cold war, advertisers brought a sense of calm and peace to the American landscape. It was a time of tremendous growth in the field of advertising.

Paperback Cover. James Avati. 1951.

By 1960, the introduction and television was beginning to push the field into as of yet, unforeseen directions. However, the miracle of this new medium that made its way into almost every home in the nation was a boon for illustrators. Magazine sales dropped and many of the giants of earlier faded into the past, as did the need for illustrators (Reed and Reed 2008, 11). In order retain the interest of readers, new and innovative styles began to emerge. These new styles included the single line drawings and mediums such as finger paints and crayon began to emerge (Reed and Reed 2008, 11). Experimental art was in high demand, yet readers continued to desert print media in favor of the television.

Billy Holiday album Cover, David Stone Martin, 1959

Illustrators turned to doing record covers, annual reports, poster art and book covers (Reed and Reed 2008, 11). They turned to any means to survive.

Man on the Moon and Vietnam (1960-1970)

The 1960s signaled another great change in societal attitudes. After a period of relative calm, the landscape would soon be filled with protests, sit-ins, and slogans like "Make Love, Not War." America entered the space race and while some watched America put a man on the moon, others were too busy dying in the mosquito infested jungles of Vietnam to notice. Added to this collage of civil unrest, Malcolm X and the Black Panthers literally set the streets on fire, demanding equality for a race that remained socially and economically enslaved.

Horror Movie Scenes We'd Like to See. Mad Magazine. Jack Davis. 1965.

America of the 1960s was a country divided into many pieces. Illustrators found plenty of work to be found. The days of national publications began to fade and illustrators found work in an expanding paperback industry.

John Updike. David Levine. April 11, 1968.

Gallery presentations that highlighted western topics allowed illustrators to find a new, more sophisticated audience. Illustrators had to learn to work under different specification, such as the cover of a paperback or even smaller in some cases, but it was work, so they adapted (Reed and Reed 2008, 12).

The New Social Awareness (1970-1980)

The 1970s saw another period of economic turmoil, with out of control oil prices and inflation. America was once again unemployed. The Vietnam war appeared that it would never end. Americans needed an escape. They found that escape in illicit drugs, disco, and the rise of sci-fi and fantasy. Americans would turn to anything that would take them aware from the harshness of their reality, if only for a little while.

"Them." Cosmopolitan. Bob Peak. 1970.

The magazine industry was all but gone. The pulp fiction and paperback illustrators had to transition into the new science fiction market. The demand was for well-endowed heroines involved in violent action poses (Reed and Reed 2008, 13).

. Cover for Robert Heinleins' books published by Signet

Gene Szafran. 1970.

Television also created room for illustrators who were willing to do story boards (Reed and Reed 2008, 13).. Children's shows such as Sesame Street made use of illustrators to teach children the basics that they would need for school. Illustrators taught a generation the basics of reading, along with a few friends such as Big Bird and Kermit.

Social Concerns and A Look Back (1980-1990)

Vietnam ended in the middle of the last decade, and the economy was on the mend. Social issues gained a new powerful voice as the graphic novel rose to become the new outlet. Illustrators during this time began to take a retrospective look at decades past for inspiration. The 1980s represents a time for looking back and reflecting on the excitement of the past 20 years.