Illustration Artist: J C Leyendecker

One company who used J C Leyendecker's illustrating skills was the breakfast food company of Kelloggs. The artist produced 20 different illustrations for ad campaigns. These advertisements are highly collectible today and loved by many for the capricious characters in each if the ads.

An Advertisement for Kellogg's Cornflakes
Giclee Print
18 in. x 24 in.
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J C Leyendecker, along with his brother Frank were hired by apparel manufacturers while living in New York City. One account that worked well for "Joe" was the B. Kuppenheimer suit company.

Kuppenheimer
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The account with Arrow brand of shirt collars, along with other apparel illustrations defined the look of the American male in fashion during the first part of the twentieth century. J C Leyendecker helped create that look.

Arrow Dress Collars and Shirts.
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Leyendecker also did posters for different causes. The poster below is a replica of one done promoting War Bonds and encouraging young people to sell them. Many love this poster not only for its patriotism but also the Boy Scout shown lifting a weapon up for Lady Liberty.

Leyendecker,...
9 in. x 12 in.
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One of my very favorite categories in collecting the illustration art of J C Leyendecker are the numerous magazine covers done for the Saturday Evening Post for the New Year edition. The babies and toddlers are always so whimsical in their grown up activities.

A very popular magazine cover by J C Leyendecker is the one with the motorcycle cop and the kids in their peddle car. Not only collectors of illustration art and Leyendecker art want this cover. Motorcycle collectors and toy collectors also love the detailed illustration.

Motorcycle Cop and Kids
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J. C. Leyendecker did humorous covers for the Saturday Evening Post from time to time too. Below you will see a reproduction print of one about Golf. The adorable little boy shows his displeasure with the putt just made. This cover is titled Stinky Putt.

Stinky Putt, c.1920

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In 1915, artist Joseph Christian Leyendecker illustrated this image with baseball as the theme. I am uncertain as to whether this was for the cover of a magazine or as an illustration for an article. It might also have been for a book illustration.

Baseball, 1915
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Witches Night Out, c.1923

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Leyendecker influenced many of the illustration artists that were working as his peers and also many of the illustrators who followed after him. Each had their own style and worked with some of the same companies or different ones but enjoyed great success too.

Jessie Wilcox Smith was quite successful illustrating magazine covers and books during her career.

An illustrator who came after J C Leyendecker and still enjoys a popular following with collectors is John Falter who designed many Saturday Evening Post Covers along with illustrating many advertisements.

A popular illustrator of children, Bessie Pease Gutmann illustrated books and created art for prints that still touch our hearts today with the innocence of the children she depicted.

To read about a French Surrealist who was creating art at the same time as J. C. Leyendecker visit a piece about Augustin Lesage. His work looks very Art Deco to my eyes.

Illustration Artist: J. C. Leyendecker was written on November 1, 2009 by BevsPaper (Bev Owens) and is protected by copyright law. No reproduction is permitted without the author's written consent.