J.C. Leyendecker 1874-1951 

 

  J.C. Leyendecker’s painting style is unmistakably his own and easily recognizable, his style is timeless and modern. Although if you asked people about a specific American artist who created more covers for The Saturday Post than any other artist many may answer Norman Rockwell. You can’t blame them seeing as both artists have very similar styles, mainly because Leyendecker was one of Rockwell’s biggest influences. Covers for magazines such as the New Yorker still seem to share or try to emulate his iconic style and are often similar to the covers he produced. His exaggerated anatomy and animated gestures also helped to get his message across. By 1905 his artwork was immediately recognizable because of Leyendecker’s highly expressive brush strokes and style that will still influence and inspire artists and illustrators for years to come. 

   
Leyendecker got his big break on the 20^th of May in the year of 1899 when he received his first commission for The Saturday Evening Post. This was the beginning of a long career as a cover designer for The Saturday Evening Post. This was a huge part of his career; forty-four years Leyendecker was associated with the most popular magazine in the country. Over those forty-four years he produced 322 covers for the magazine during his long and impressive career. His unique style and impressive skills that can only be associated with the best of the best.
 Leyendecker was also responsible for the idea of using a baby on New Years covers.

 
 Along with The Saturday Evening Post Leyendecker did advertisements for a cigarette company, The Boy Scouts of America, Kelloggs Company, all of the branches of the armed services, and many many more. And during both World Wars he lent his talents to the nations war efforts creating war propaganda, war bonds, poster encouraging enlistment to the armed services.

   
 I don't think that my work looks a lot like his but i hope at one point it will. The style he uses is awesome, showing certain details and usually doesn't put a background but still completely get his message across from the little that he does show. That's why I think J.C. Leyendecker is one of the most influential illustrators of all time and why I  want to create art similar to his.