"Artists to Watch Out For" is one of the favorite things that I do for the Blogosphere. It's my gift to the world, and my way of sharing historic and contemporary art and artists that I love but that you may not have seen in a standard college art class... and if there's one that says "20th Century Christmas," it's J.C. Leyendecker.
I'm not alone. When fellow painter and blogger Clinton T. Hobart listed his favorite Christmas illustrations, I saw three different Leyendeckers made the list, with one earning the added distinction: "one of my favorite illustrations ever." A realistic painter himself, Hobart writes, "J.C Leyendecker has always been my favorite for Holiday Illustration."
Leyendecker's impact on the Golden Age of Illustration is immeasurable. His influence on the later Norman Rockwell is something often forgotten by history. Saturday Evening Post cover illustration was almost synonymous with this man until Rockwell followed in his footsteps. The entire opus of his life's work includes over 300 covers for the Post alone... Obviously, the holiday covers are a very small tip of a giant iceberg.
This Flickr Collection is copyrighted, but enjoyable.
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