Snarky, Arty Blog

trungles:

malebeautyinart:

Norman Rockwell and J.C. Leyendecker.

Norman Rockwell referred to him as “the great J.C. Leyendecker.” 

Speaking about his idol in a December 7, 1997 article in theSpringfield Republican, Rockwell said, “I began working for ‘The Saturday Evening Post’ in 1916 and Leyendecker was my god. I actually used to, unbeknownst to him, follow him down the streets of New Rochelle, just to be close to him.” 

Although his illlustrations appeared regularly in national magazines, it was his commercial work that established him most rapidly as one of the most sought-after illustrators of the day. The “Arrow Collar Man” became an overnight sensation and generated fan mail by the ton. 

By evoking a youthful virile atmosphere, Leyendecker pioneered the advertising dictum that it is the lifestyle that sells. He established the prototype of the stylish American Male promoting fashions by B. Kuppenheimer, Hart Schaffner & Marx, and Interwoven Socks.

Mmmmmmm Charles Beach.

Also, fun fact: Leyendecker painted 322 covers for the Saturday Evening Post. Later, Rockwell, who had long since replaced Leyendecker as the Post’s premiere cover artist, stopped working for the Post after having painted 321 covers. It could be a coincidence but was more likely a sign of deference to his former mentor. 

(Later, though, two of his covers were reprinted, so Rockwell’s final number comes to 323 covers for the Saturday Evening Post, one more than Leyendecker.)