Thursday, January 10, 2013
Civilization's Progress by John Held Jr.
Held produced the series for Liberty magazine about 1931-33 as best I can determine. In the series he combined his much-loved roaring-'20s flapper style with the woodcut style that he seemed to enjoy producing. I have to say I never really warmed up to Held's woodcut stuff, as technically interesting as it is. However, in this series I do love how the two styles complement each other.
Comments:
It would seem the old timey bicycle may be based on his own mother's debut as Salt Lake's firs "bloomer girl." http://history.utah.gov/experience_history/glimpses/bicycles.html
In the various Held "flapper" cartoons I've seen, captions and jokes rarely come up to the level of his drawings. In fact, all of these work as well or better without the explanatory text.
As for the woodcuts, I enjoy the New Yorker ones with their far more eccentric (and funny) references and text.
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As for the woodcuts, I enjoy the New Yorker ones with their far more eccentric (and funny) references and text.
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: 1/10/2013 2:41 PM
: 1/10/2013 2:41 PM 