100 Years of Illustration

Oliver Herford—More

Finally, it would seem in 1910, that Oliver Herford was favored with better display in Theodore De Vinne's Century Magazine. This issue of October, 1910, featured Herford's wash technique, which is very expressive—I wish it had been reproduced in color. The mermaids might be considered a precursor to the pin-up subjects of two decades later, except for the fact that Herford was a sophisticated gent, whose restraint is evident in these examples. Click on these images to enlarge them and the text.

A full-page cartoon in The Century Magazine for May 1898, in Herford's pen and ink style and a witty play on words. 

A full-page cartoon in The Century Magazine for September 1898

More of Herford's Animal poems and illustrations. These three appeared at the back of the book in The Century Magazine for November 1901.

One of my favorite drawings.

The following illustrated poem was published in The Century Magazine for May 1902 when the country and much of the world was preoccupied with the conflict between those who insisted upon keeping our currency based on a gold standard, as opposed to others who agitated for a silver standard to reverse deflation. Here's a link to presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan Cross of Gold speech at the Democratic party convention in 1896,

And to close, this is another example of Herford's black-and-white wash technique illustrating a back-of-the book feature, Mythological Animals, in The Century Magazine. This appeared in the issue of February 1911. Click on image to enlarge it and the text.

Oliver Herford's "A Child's Primer of Natural History"

Sorry for the delay in uploading new items this month. 

Thanks very much for your patience.

Click on images to enlarge them.

These were regular monthly features at the back of the book in the Century Magazine.

Above, issue of November 1898, below, issue of January 1899.

Above, issue of January 1899, below, issue of February 1899.

Above, issue of March 1899, below, issue of April 1899.

 

Above, issue of May 1899, below, issue of May 1899, also.

Oliver Herford's Confessions of a Caricaturist

I've been wanting to bring you examples of his work ever since I began this weblog almost five years and over a million hits ago. However, I misplaced the folder and it finally appeared last week while—of course—I searched for something else.

Oliver Herford has been referred to as the American Oscar Wilde, which really doesn't do him justice. For one thing, he married. More importantly, he was a great illustrator, whose visual work was as elegant as his prose. He could draw and he could paint, and write, with great taste, clarity and wit for publishers as well as the theatre.

As an introduction to his timeless humor and artistic skill, I offer this link to his Confessions of a Caricaturist, which has been made available on line by Project Gutenerg.

Herford and his cat, Hafiz, drawn for the book by James Montgomery Flagg.

Enjoy this book. More of Herford's work to come.