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Illustration and Modern art in the 60`s

Illustration refers to the art of depicting ideas and occurrences in a manner that makes it visually interpretable by the intended audience. It invokes the use of images to depict meaning. The golden age of illustration in western civilization (America) started in the 1950s. After this, art of illustration has evolved dramatically with different eras governing it arising periodically. It evolved from just being an art to being a source of livelihood for the artists. However the 20th century marked the most dynamic evolution of the art of illustration. There are many eras that played a major role in paving the way to today’s culture.

Various historical events led to the evolution of the art of illustration. These events include World War 1, World War 2, The Great Economic Depression, Wall Street Crash, The Cold War, Space Exploration, The Nuclear Era and the information technology era just to name some. Each of these historical events had an impact on the art of illustration. Culture is defined and molded around it as it set a base for the arising of trends.

Over the 20th century, more and more people were seeking to become enlightened with women seeking to express themselves and everyone being welcoming to change. Artists gained more freedom to express themselves instead of expressing the power of their employers as was the case in the 19th century. In the early decades of the 20th century, books were the major source of entertainment. Through these artists were able to influence the culture of the people. This paved way to the creation of an industry whose goal was to create the American dream. At this time, the importance of magazines became evident and thus its demand increased. This cancelled out the economical hardship of printing the same.

ARTISTS AND THEIR WORKS IN ILLUSTRATIONS

Norman Rockwell (February 3, 1894– November 8, 1978) was one of the artists whose works are celebrated today. He is famous for his works that are still popular up to date. I consider him to be one of the most achieved illustrators having produced impressive works. From as early as 1916 having successfully making the cover painting to the book Mothers Day Off published on may 20th of the same year. He then proceeded to make impressive works like The Four Freedoms in 1943 and a lot of works for the Look Magazine.

Another notable illustrator was John Philip Falter (1910 – 1982). He is remembered for his work with The Saturday Evening Post. He, however, managed other impressive works in other publications. He also did a series of over 200 paintings during the 1970s and the 19805 after the end of illustrated magazines brought a career crisis Sea to Shining Sea.

Steve Dohanos (1907 – 1994) was another impressionable illustrator. He, just like John Falter is known for his works in The Saturday Evening Post. Some of his works are displayed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of Art, Whitney museum of American Art and the Dartmouth College. As much as his paintings are highly regarded he is widely known for his works as an illustrator and a magazine cover artist.

I regard these illustrators as the greatest illustrators in history because they continued upholding the art of illustration. At a time when the arrival of technologies like photography that threatened to render it obsolete. They paved way for today’s illustration artists and gave encouragement to others in the art that has been held down by new tech.

Works cited

Hal Fosther, Rosalind Krauss, Yve-Alain Bois, Benjmin HD. Buchloh, and David Joselit’s Art Since 1900: modernism, antimodernism, postmodernismm Vol 2 1945-present.

David Joselit’s American art since 1945 (Thames and hudson 2013)

Robert S nelson and Richard shiff, eds., Critical terms for Art history. university of chicago 2003 and Charles Harrison and Paul wood, eds, art in theory 1900-2000: an Anthology of Changing yeas. blackwell, 2003