AMERICAN ILLUSTRATION IN THE 1950s

[@dftonz]

I love the 1950s art style. I love it a lot.

[@JamesArthurMertens]

What is the name style art?...pls

[@dftonz]

@@JamesArthurMertens I'm not sure. I just google 1950s art or 1950s drawings. Sorry.

[@JamesArthurMertens]

Ok thank...

[@riches3581]

@@JamesArthurMertens Vintage but I'm not sure

[@rainnymph]

I'm not sure but I think Its 1950's magazine illustration! If you guys like this I really recommend 1920's magazine illustration especially parisian and brazilian. It's one of my favourites too

[@wascho]

oh my gosh Pete, you have no idea just how long I’ve been searching for a video just like this. I’ve recently been getting into that “vintage Americana” art style and implementing that aesthetic in my work, but I could never really put my finger on what made it unique. thank you so much for this beautiful video!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thabks for the appreciation, If the video has been a signpost to a way forward in your own development that's a real bonus.

[@midnightmosesuk]

That was fascinating. I recognized so many of those illustrations. I was born in the 60's and those styles of art were a part of my early life's backdrop, they were everywhere. Seeing those again, but this time with some history about them, has given me a greater appreciation for them.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of this video. It's great to know viewers enjoy the content on the channel.

[@patriciahayes2664]

They helped foster my interest in art at a young age.

[@undergroundwarrior70]

I actually met Sergio Aragones in the early 80's in my hometown of Santa Barbara, California, and at that time he was residing in Ojai in Ventura County. He was studying to become an architect at a university in Mexico, and he was doing his cartoon drawings since he was a kid, I do believe. His student friends really enjoyed his cartoon drawings, and also I do believe they suggested he should become a professional cartoonist. So he dropped out of the university to pursue to become a professional cartoonist. His parents were not happy about that. We went out a couple of times to have some beers and eat at a Mexican Restaurant over on the East Side where I grew up. Sergio Aragones is very cool guy. And he told me that he spent hours at his drawing board 7 days a week coming up with new cartoon ideas. He also started a comic book of his wild cartoon characters with Marvel Comics.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your recollection, and what a memory to have of the man. Thank goodness he quit architecture.

[@terryleigh2961]

Fantastic, insightful look at these amazing artists. Excellent video Pete - thanks for your work!

[@petebeard]

Hi and thanks very much for your positive response - it means a lot

[@JamesArthurMertens]

@@petebeard ..What is the name style art?..?

[@petebeard]

Hi...I'm not sure I understand the question.. do you mean who created the title picture? If so it's Gil Elvgren

[@JamesArthurMertens]

@@petebeard yes...ok thank

[@toffer99]

This series is brilliant. I'm learning and enjoying at the same time; surely the best kind of experience. Thank you, and keep them coming.

[@petebeard]

Hello and that's a very heartwarming comment. My mission is very much to educate with a bit more entertainment than the usual dry lectures offered.

[@joeharley5868]

I was born in 1953, so these artists illustrated the world I grew up in. I can recall seeing some of these ads, and magazine covers, and childrens' books, and Wood and Frazetta became heroes to me in the 1960s. 'Sleeping Beauty' blew my little mind when it came out, and I can see now how the animation art in the Rocky and Bullwinkle show was influenced by these illustrators. Frankly, I was turned off by a lot of the art of this period when I was a boy, (all of those jazz albums!), and still am today. But there's a place for everything. Thanks, Pete!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for the comment. Those were particularly interesting times on both sides of the ocean.

[@apresmidi153]

It's so incredible to me that I know, instantly, these works but never knew the names of the illustrators who produced them until watching this (other than Rockwell)...Incredible video!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation and comment. I hope you'll watch more videos on the channel too.

[@Nancy-pf6ft]

Your videos are educational and inspirational. I absolutely enjoy the heck out of them.

[@petebeard]

Hello to you and thanks a lot for your favourable response to the channel. Viewer satisfaction is a great motivator.

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

The 1950s - 1960s illustration are a lot more creative and avant garde. From realistic painterly-ness to somewhat abstract and simplistic, the decade seemed to be very well-detailed that even Photoshop can managed to replicate that with that style. These kinds of artworks makes me wanna rub my chin just to find my inspiration as an artist, especially when it comes to UPA animation which it's why the art style is still relevant to this day and even well-known animators such as Craig McCracken, Genndy Tartakovsky, and alike took the inspiration from UPA and its legacy. Great essay video!

[@petebeard]

Hello to you and thanks for watching. The work of Jim Flora was a real revelation for me when I was researching for the video. So influential.

[@BLTV_Photoshop]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@gwenmartinsen3979]

I really want to hear and understand the narrative, but often the music is just TOO LOUD ! I am enjoying the illustrations, very much. Thanks.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. Sorry about the volume - I'm fairly deaf and getting a balance can be a bit hit and miss. If it helps you could try turning the sound down or off and using the subtitles.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Watching this is a magical experience! It’s pinged so many visual memory cells that I’m overwhelmed.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@djw457]

A good wrap up of this period of illustration.

[@lord.kagiso3741]

I enjoyed these kind of illustrations when I was a child. How bright the 2000s were for me. I remember I used to always go to the library.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for watching. I hope you'll watch more of the videos in the series.

[@pinkdolly]

I love these modernist illustrators!!! I can’t get enough of this style!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your comment. There's a video on the channel just about Jim Flora, in case you missed it.

[@rexharrison6827]

Been awhile since I checked out your videos, Pete. Once again this is a beauty! A lovely overview of the era. I was surprised at the inclusion of comic book art, but of course the genre is every bit as worthy as the more sophisticated magazine work. Comic book artists suffered under a virtual feudal system of employment made worse by a general negative societal attititude, so it’s a wonder the form got as far as it did by the Fifties and managed to survive at all. In regard to Jack Kirby, I agree he was no Alex Raymond or Frank Frazetta, but his style, as it matured into the Sixties and Seventies became more Expressionistic, even abstract, resembling Grosz, and Kollwitz on the one hand and the Romantic stylings of William Blake on the other. Kirby himself, stated he was primarily a cartoonist, as opposed to an illustrator. As an aside, if you’re going to include more comic book art, PLEASE include English artists from the Fifties and Sixties especially Frank Bellamy!

[@petebeard]

Hi again and thanks for the comments. I think youtube impose a word limit on comments so I could only read as far as your reference to Grosz. My negative reference to Kirby is only about his work at that stage of his career. I actually like the guy's work.

[@petebeard]

Hello again. I realised the full message was on my e-mail too and your points are well made. Regarding British non-Beano comic art that's food for thought for a future video. Meanwhile Bellamy gets a (brief) spot in my British 1950s illustration video.

[@petebeard]

Ooops... I said Bellamy and I meant Hampson. It's my age.

[@lilianmiramontesjr.7550]

Question? Can you write the names of the artists you mention in the video in the description box?

[@charlesegerton2859]

You can try Closed Captioning

[@disgruntledteenager566]

they're at the end of the video

[@doxasophosmoros]

Unbelievably lazy, you are. Or incompetent, actually is a more fitting description.

[@recoveringsoul755]

Even though I am a straight female, for some reason I have always been fascinated by the pinup art style and the pulp fiction art on covers of books and movie posters. It's great stuff

[@petebeard]

Hello and I think balanced open minded humans of any gender or sexual persuasion respond to these images favourably. They are part of 20th century popular art and deserve to have the spotlight turned on them. For my money, they are more engrossing than most modern 'proper' art

[@doxasophosmoros]

That's got nothing to do with sexuality you absolute moron. ... LMAO every straight male and female and etc are into it that's why they use exaggerated surgery filled ( sad,y these days , since the old style doesn't cut it) and photoshopped female models to advertise to FEMALES... since forever. Its just a way to gain attention and the need to keep over doing it. Its nothing to do with sexuality, fool.

[@doxasophosmoros]

That's got nothing to do with sexuality you absolute mor0n. ... LMAO every straight male and female and etc are into it that's why they use exaggerated surgery filled ( sad,y these days , since the old style doesn't cut it) and photoshopped female models to advertise to FEMALES... since forever. Its just a way to gain attention and the need to keep over doing it. Its nothing to do with sexuality, fool.

[@sofiabravo1994]

@@doxasophosmoros I’ve notice as a woman I notice more attractive women than my own husband, you’d expect the opposite but I guess it’s our nature?

[@doraran2138]

You've been criticized by keyboard fascists who should shut up. Your fascination with this art style is readily understandable to anyone who consider people as individuals, rather that the current elites' forced narrow culture collectivsm that brands anyone who thinks for themselves as a 'domestic terrorists' for non mindlessly accepting the elitists' authority that views people in identity groups. Continue enjoying this art form, being an individual, and don't let elitist snobs or their pseudointellectual lackey parrots that think repeating cliches is somehow a replacement for any true intelligence.

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Brilliant selection. Thank you very much as always for another tour of eye catching fun and skill.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the positive response.

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

I always loved that style of illustration. So artistic. I would not pay to go to Louvre, but tell me about a museum with 1950s art, and I will pay the ticket gladly.

[@vincentbarkley9121]

Beautifully done.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for the appreciation.

[@Gealamusic]

This is an amazing video! Hope it gets more views

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot. It's great to get positive feedback.

[@j.m.2198]

I love sketching and greatly admire painting. I always watch this video when I’m seeking artistic inspiration.

[@kopfweh9926]

can barely hear the narrator over the music.

[@beowoofthemoviestar]

Really fun bit of history, great visuals, and melodic music behind a calm, easy-to-listen-to narrative voice. Thank you!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your favourable rsponse to this video. Its really great to be appreciated.

[@bubbercakes528]

So many pictures, so many memories. I was born in ‘63 and was amazed at the flashbacks I had watching this video of ‘50’s illustrator’s. I read profusely as a child and the illustrations from children’s books were especially reminiscent. Great work, sir!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the illustrations.

[@SteveStoneYSStudio]

A wonderful, articulate snapshot of illustration. Thank you for sharing your insight Pete.

[@petebeard]

And thanks for your positive response. It's always good to know people appreciate the work

[@psefti]

0:34 Cumberbatch in bottom corner lol

[@kobalto1740]

imagine have the original of those ilustrations

[@jeffbrinkerhoff5121]

Wonderful encapsulation of the graphic world I grew up in. Terrific channel, thank you.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciative comment.

[@BruiserBailey1]

Congratulations on your fascinating and erudite commentary on an important and somewhat neglected part of culture. Your music choice and relaxed commentary does justice to the subject. I was born in 1950. My parents owned and we lived above a news agency with a very large trade in magazines and comics. By the time I started primary school I had quite advanced reading skills largely due to my voracious consumption of comics. I remember the Classics Illustrated series that blended comic strip with condensed text and Rupert Bear that did the same. By the time I was an adolescent I discovered Mad, Cracked and Help magazines and surreptitiously enjoyed the first Playboy magazines. Pretty painless way to begin an education and it left me with an enduring love of the illustrators of the period.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. I too was born in 1950 and the more sedentary moments of childhood seem to have been spent reading comics and comic strips, and even the occasional Noddy book, and then trying to copy what I saw. If you haven't already you might enjoy watching the British partner video on the channel too.

[@brightlight7181]

PERFECT ANALYSIS! Thanks!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your comment. Much appreciated.

[@greatpix]

I'm a retired photographer, while not well known, vintage pinup was the style I most associated with. Elvgren and early Playboy photography were my major influencers. Mostly my work with Dita Von Teese when she was in her early 20's led to anyone knowing who I was. I shot 2 centerfolds for Atomic Magazine, a high quality magazine devoted to retro culture. The one featuring Kelley Rarey becoming perhaps my most popular image. Oddly enough I met the current owner of the rights to Elvgren's work and we discussed my doing some work for him but nothing came of it. It would have made my day to have been associated in any way to Elvgren. A modern artist whose work I think should be up there with some of the best is Nathalie Rattner.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your comment, and I must have seen some of your photography because I'm fairly familiar with Ms. Von Teese and her work. And thanks for the tip-off about Nathalie Rattner, of whom I was previouly unaware. I've loved Elvgren's paintings ever since I first saw them in my late teens. I never could understand the greater attention that Vargas seemed to attract.

[@gastrcat]

When the trees were big, the people were kind and the food was natural!!

[@petebeard]

Hello, and I don't know what that's a reference to, but it sounds nice.

[@NoName-pi9hg]

Ive been trying to find this video FOREVER! I'M HAPPY I FOUND IT!

[@petebeard]

Hello and that's great news for both of us.

[@arizonaunplugged-neilbrook9509]

0:07 I have to say whomever illustrated this one - is/was certainly a man of culture ;)🤙🏽

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm sorry to say I cant enlighten you about the identity of this artist - I didn't keep a record of the name and a search on google now reveals nothing.

[@legendhasitstudio]

Ive studied illustrations and illustrators for 55 years and 1890 's to 1960 is my favorite!! Thanks

[@finddeniro]

I have bought a Few Garage sales . Thrift stores..Top of the Dumpsters too.

[@mosart7025]

This is very informative. It would be nice however if the names of the artists could have appeared on the screen with their art.

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot. Sorry about the lack of captions on this one. I learned to put them on others I made later. If it's any consolation they are listed at the end of the video, or if you put subtitles on they will accompany the images shown.

[@mosart7025]

@@petebeard Oh wow... I never thought of subtitles. Some I knew or could understand you when you said them. But some were rather difficult... Not just Smith or Jones. I went to Pittsburgh Art Institute in the 80s. Henry Kerner was one of my teachers. I think he did about 60 Time magazine covers.

[@legendhasitstudio]

Great videos and info / im absessed with illustrations and illustrators

[@javierjm1600]

Great great illustrators!

[@lordlem]

Even though I am a straight female, for some reason I have always been fascinated by the pinup art style and the pulp fiction art on covers of books and movie posters. It's great stuff

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for the comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and there are others on the channel (shameless plug) featuring movie poster artists and pulp magazine illustrators too.

[@Callmenobody174]

Very rarely do I find any new channels on KZbin that I'm truly excited by. I think I just stumbled across one, here! Excellent!

[@petebeard]

Hello and welcome aboard. I hope that your optimism about the channel content turns out to be justified.

[@johncollado1151]

Hi Pete... I must have missed this one while viewing your videos. One of these artists, Jack Kirby, got me interested in comic books back in the sixties. I really enjoyed this video, thanks.

[@accreditedbythenicemaninth6495]

I’ve always had an aversion to abstract work, especially as a final product. I wish there was much more of the classic art style, but it’s rarity does make it more special when I come across it. I snatch up children’s books for my kids that has a more realistic style.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment. Personally it's the remarkably diverse nature of illustrative styles that I find so fascinating about the subject, but of course we all have our personal preferences. Old age had taught me to differentiate between what I actually like and what I admire or appreciate.

[@arthurzettel6618]

Just to think. Before Cellphones, Computers and the Internet. People would actually talk to each other and sometimes intimately share each other's thoughts. Art and cartoons were drawn-out by talented gifted people and not CGI.

[@petebeard]

Hello and as a boomer I tend to agree. On the other hand without all that tech stuff I wouldn't have a platform. Such is life...

[@ahmedessa1364]

Norman Rockwell's art style is my favorite

[@moonsdonut5188]

As a modern day adobe illustrator I respect this old art forum alote thanks for the video

[@petebeard]

Hllo and thanks for watching. If you haven't already done so please subscribe so you'll know when there's a new video. And share with friends/colleagues.

[@craigdodge229]

Wonderful video. I am watching them all, and learning so much! But you need to view more of Kirby. His romance work of the late 40's and early 50's was a little stiff, but his superhero work from the early 40's and then again in the 60's is generally considered by fans and professionals alike as among the most dynamic ever seen. Far more dynamic than the otherwise gorgeous work of Alex Raymond.

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot and I'm glad you approve. Regading the Kirby comment (which others have objected to) I meant it solely about the evidence on screen - it wasn't intended (although I realise it comes across that way) as a critique of the man's career. The trouble with these videos is once they're up they're up and if I remade it I'd lose my views which sadly I need for my ego. Thanks again.

[@yes_head]

@@petebeard Pete, please don't feel pressured to walk back your comments about Jack Kirby. It has to be remembered that back then guys like him were working to intense deadlines for very little pay. Nobody in the comic business could afford a Norman Rockwell (which is why Frank Frazetta became such a rock star) so they made do with artists who may not have had the same technical chops, but who could visually tell an exciting story, and do it on time and on budget.

[@petebeard]

@@yes_head Hello and thanks for the comment. At the risk of sounding prickly (I'm not) I didn't think I was walking the comment back - although I'm not actually that sure what the phrase means. I thought I was trying to politely clarify the point made by the obvious evidence on screen to viewers (especially comics enthusiasts) who sometimes allow their hero worship to cloud their critical faculties. My favourite ever comment was - and I quote - 'Please keep your opinions to yourself. Thankyou.' Priceless.

[@dstirl]

Brilliant, Pete. I could watch your videos for hours. Well written, narrated and illustrated. Perfect for a quick relax. Many thanks.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks a lot for the comment. Such positive responses really make my day.

[@searinese]

i would like to live in the 1950s but i wish they weren’t racist :(

[@colejohnsondrums]

Same man...

[@habababa102]

They were a lot more racist than ever...racial segregation had golden years in 50s

[@lordjin2007]

Gil Elvgren = God

[@Acheiropoietos]

Glad to see my personal favourites Gil Evgren and Frank Frazetta mentioned. Such an enormous breadth of talent in America at this time.

[@petebeard]

Hello and there aren't many who would argue with you about that.

[@shirleykathan-sayess5764]

THANK YOU SO MUCH! I don’t think anyone has done so much for presenting illustration in such wonderful depth as you. I think you have created a college course! What a wonderful video. 😊 ❤ SayessDesign

[@stevejordan7275]

How delightful. Do another!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks. Good idea but it'll have to wait its turn in a very long queue...

[@stevejordan7275]

@@petebeard No doubt. But it'll be worth the wait. Thanks so much for all your work; my wife and I have both enjoyed it immensely.

[@maple1255]

Superb examples of American illustration cart, so well narrated

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation and flattering comment,

[@lerpack455]

A first class lecture. l now know how ‘The Flintstones’ look came about.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot.

[@josepablolunasanchez1283]

These artists would make me fall in love with a woman from a painting. Imagine that, an impossible love. If I travelled back in time, a woman shows me a painting "this is the painting I modelled for" the next thing I would say is "Ok, when do we marry?". LOL!

[@ArtfulShelley]

Great video! I think you are making up for the fact I didn't get to go to school for illustration, but commercial art. Love it all!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for the comment. My own training was in graphic design rather than illustration, but I must say I don't regret it. Both disciplines came in handy in what passed for my career.

[@joltjolt5060]

Loved 50s style illustration

[@geraldtakala1721]

Great music as well

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks. It took some searching but I really didn't want to use more predictable Rock n' Roll. A less thrilled viewer denounced me for using '40s music'. He was wrong.

[@aw3752]

Enjoyed your video very much. Can you tell me where you went to get the permission to use these images? I’d like to license a retro piece of art from this era for an album cover but I can’t seem to find who the owners of the copyrights are and how to get legal rights to use them. I would really appreciate it. And good work on this. I love this style of retro art.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks. To make the videos I don't need permission as everything is covered under what's known as 'fair use'. This basically means that I can show any picture providing it's for the purpose of discussion or analysis. But copyright comes into play if I started producing T shirts or other products (albums) using those images. If you know who created the image you want to use you could try googling 'estate of...'. Beyond that you might consider commissioning someone to create something similar but which neatly sidesteps copyright. As with music you can't copyright a style, only a specific melody. I don't know if any of this is of use to you but good luck.

[@lilianmiramontesjr.7550]

I want to develop an art style between Kirby and Rockwell.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for watching. All the illustrators featured in the 50s video are listed at the end (easy to miss). And I wish you every success with your plan to merge the talents of those two great artists.

[@johnvrabec9747]

Elvgren and Frahm are my favorites.

[@markmorris2207]

I quite enjoy your videos. Please keep making them. Just to let you know, Superman was first published in 1938--not the 1940's. : )

[@petebeard]

Thanks for the comment. And yes I know I was just rounding it out to the nearest decade.

[@snowartmom]

Pete, thanks for this great video. I was born at the end of the 50’s. Some of these images and styles may have lingered into the 60’s. I have some memories of this style. These artists were so creative and inspire me to be more inventive as I create art. 😀👩🏼‍🎨

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. Being British I did know some of the bigger names beforehand but quite a few such as Mary Blair I had never heard of, even though I immediately recognised her work from childhood trips to see Disney movies.

[@ElementofKindness]

Sure wish that I would have been around in the 50s. Spending my teenage years then would have been wonderful, and I wouldn't have had to live through the god-forsaken times that are our present.

[@petebeard]

Hello and it does look ideal from this distance. But as an officially old person (although British) it wasn't as lovely as it now looks.

[@Smallpotato1965]

Wonderful!! Did you also do some research on Dutch illustrators of the same timeframe (I'm thinking Rien Poortvliet and Fiep Westerdorp)? I'm highly reminded of them, and I wonder who influenced who, or if they just evolved along their own lines (my neighbour was illustrator Ton Hoogendoorn (1927-1983), who always told me that his inspiration was Picasso and Karel Appel. There are illustrators that are so iconic that every Dutch person of forty five and older instantly recognises their style and can even name the authors whom they illustrated for, but whose names nobody knows. Carl Hollander, for instance, who illustrated most of Paul Biegel's books, or Dick de Wilde, who seemed to specialise in 'historical' illustrations and thus illustrated Rosemary Sutcliff's, Leon Garfield's and Johan Fabricius' books so wonderfully (the absolute cornerstone of my childhood!). Tonke Dragt, would, of course, illustrate her own books, but also 'did for' a handful others. As mentioned before, Rien Poortvliet was an absolute huge prensence in the illustration world. He illustrated childrens books, did advertisment in his early years but concentrated on his own artbooks (of which his 'Gnomes' was the first and most iconic) later on. Where Rien work was painterly and representative as Norman Rockwell, Fiep Westerdorp was abstract. Her 'Jip en Janneke' black and white book illustrations are iconic, as are her colourful later work.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. And thanks for the 3 Dutch illustrators, none of whom I was aware of. And sadly that's an indication of how little I know about what I think of as later Dutch illustration. If I tried i would just make a fool of myself. But if it's any consolation I feature quite a few great earlier Dutch illustrators in the unsung heroes series. And when I upload the 75th in the series there will be a list of every illustrator feaured in each instalment so far. And more are in the pipeline too.

[@Smallpotato1965]

@@petebeard Hi Pete! Sorry, took me two weeks to respond.. Wanted to throw some more Dutch illustrators at you, but Real Life intervened, so all I can think of, from the cuff so to speak, are Rie Cramer, Wim Bijmoer, Thé Tjong King, Marten Toonder and Piet Wijn. Rie Cramer's (1887-1977) style has become iconic for children's book illustration during the interwar years. She lived long enough to have people first elevate her and then criticizing her into the ground for being 'too sweet' and 'bloodless', and for a long time, from the Sixties on, she became rather persona non grata, 'art only suited for biscuit tins', but I rather love her for what she was and the timeperiod she represented. Wim Bijmoer (1914-2000) became especially remowned for his illustration of Annie M.G. Schmidt children's rhymes and poetry, especially his rendition of 'the sheep Veronica' (there's a statue of Bijmoer's 'Veronica' in Bijmoer's hometown). Thousands of children (including me) grew up with his images inprinted in their minds, which is what a good bookillustrator-for-children does. Thé Tjong King (1933- ) was born in Indonesia from Chinese stock, so 'Thé' is the family name and he himself is called Tjong King. Is still active as an illustrator of childrens books, but for me he was a Prensence in the Seventies with his comic books, the SF series 'Arman en Ilva' and 'De Twee van Oldenburgh'. He's still active as a children's book artist after a quite distinctive career (won a fair amount of prizes) spanning more than fifty years. And when we speak of comic book artists, Marten Toonder (1912-2005) is a HUGE name. Famous for his 'Tom Poes' comic book series, a sort of modern take on the fox Reynard, since all the characters are anthromophic (sp?) animals and the stories pokes (gentle) fun on pretentiousness in general and certain contemporary things in the specific. His works would often have made up words which became so popular that they have become imbedded in normal Dutch, and certain prhases ('een Heer van Stand' = 'a Gentleman of Class', for example, the prhase Ollie B. Bommel, a kinhearted, not too bright and somewhat pompous Bear of Noble Family constantly refers himself as) have become common colloquialisms. Very tongue in cheek. Because this series started in the Forties and features antrhopomorphic animals, people will often refer to his style as 'Disneyesque', but that's nonsense; Toonder is uniquely Toonder. His style did find an echo in Piet Wijn's work but his in not strange since he started working for Toonder's Studio as an eighteen year old. Piet Wijn (pronounced 'Pete Wine') became very well known as a cartoon artist in his own right and he is mostly and more widely known for his comic book series 'Douwe Dabbert'. But there are no doubt many, many, many more, and I'm not knowledgable enough, alas. Fun rabbithole to lose oneself in, though, lol!

[@petebeard]

@@Smallpotato1965 Hello and thanks for getting back to me with these suggestions. The good news is that Rie Cramer is due to appear in a few instalment's time and Henriette Willebeek Le Mair is also in the pipeline, as are a couple of other Dutch-born illustrators whose names I'm struggling to recall. And I'm very familiar with Marten Toonder's work which I like a lot. But the bad news is that he and the others you mention were all born too late to qualify for the series - the cut off year is 1910. This may seem an arbitrary decision on my part but I had to draw a line (pun intended) somewhere. As it is I'll be lucky and surprised if I live long enough to complete the ones I aready have in waiting. Nevertheless I'm always grateful to discover new (to me) illustrators so thanks a lot for your time and consideration

[@judylearn7971]

Pete Beard is one of my favourite KZbin contributors. His episodes are beautifully done, and informative. Growing up in the 50's, this artwork is full of nostalgia for me. The Provensen's became one of my daughter's favourites in the 80s! Just a rich vein of illustration, wonderfully presented. Thanks for this amazing labor of love.

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your complimentary comment about the channel. Such responses really make my day.

[@marquamfurniture]

Brilliant research and commentary. Great choices of music, too. Charles and Ray Eames design work goes hand in glove with the more abstracted/stylized illustrations of the 50s.

[@petebeard]

Hello again and thanks again for your comment. You are absolutely spot-on about the Eames designs and I was very tempted to open this one out into architecture/industrial/automotive and all the rest. But then I had the sense to rein myself in and stick with the subject I know something about. But it was a fascinating period on both sides of the ocean.

[@marquamfurniture]

@@petebeard Hi Pete -- Indeed tempting to digress as a common thread runs through art and design relationships. This is far afield, but will mention a unique period/philosophy in American painting (1940s-50s.) known as 'Indian Space.' Check out PETER BUSA's abstract art..

[@petebeard]

@@marquamfurniture Hello again and thanks a lot for the information. I was completely unaware of this aspect of modern art. And the connection with the work of Jim Flora in particular is plain to see. An interesting collision of cultures.

[@marquamfurniture]

@@petebeard I see Jim Flora's influence i n YOUR work, too! ;-)

[@DementedDistraction]

I was always enamored with Elgren's work, and he's had an indelible influence on me as an illustrator. I remember as a kid in the early 90s my uncle had an old Elvgren calendar hanging in his garage; I was looking at it so often that he eventually let me have it, and even though it's half a century out of date, I still keep it hanging in my studio and admire the paintings just as I did all those years ago. I hope to own an original Elvgren someday, I've just gotta get time and opportunity to line up, heh.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for the comment. I had to take a look at your own channel and I watched one of your speedpainting videos. To say I'm impressed would be a major understatement. I hope you are getting plenty of commissions worthy of your talent. You'll need to pay for that Elvgren original somehow...

[@mijiyoon5575]

I'm a photog & paint from my pics ... I like rabbits, hares & flowers as a beginner w/acrylics & watercolors🎨🎨🎨 I sold a few oils way back in the late '80's early '90's ...long time ago😑😑😑

[@matthewstavrowsky9998]

I wish this wonderful work hadn't gone away. Photoshop dominates today.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I know what you mean. But there are still some outposts where people are still pursuing similar principles (even if many are doing it digitally). The trouble with photoshop is it can lead to images with no personality.

[@sainttan]

Honestly out of all the art that I've seen, 50's Illustration astonishes me the most, despite liking Anime in general.

[@petebeard]

Hello and as an old person it's good to know you appreciate work from that decade.

[@Siberian1964]

A lot of thanks for very interesting video! And I have to say, that there were a lot of genius artists who worked in book illustration and animation (cartooning) in The Soviet Union at the end of the 1950s and at the 1960s.Chizhikov, Semenov, Vladimirsky and many others. But, where they now?

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your appreciation. Unfortunately finding information about Russian illustrators is generally quite hard - and so is finding examples of their work. I have featured some early talents in my videos and some who are working now but the years in between are not well documented - at least not here in the UK.

[@secretscarlet8249]

Lovely! I always wondered about this, but never found any good videos about this. Thanks for making this!

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Thanks.

[@riverwildcat1]

Wow, it's like a catalog of my childhood and adolescence. Those images are so much a part of us who lived through them that it's startling. Seeing the early MAD magazine covers is really wild, and there must be a fascinating story behind its evolution from a fringe-insane caricature book to a fabulously funny, well written, and ingeniously crafted comedy-social commentary pillar of the educated and savvy community. Fine work!

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks a lot for the appreciation. Being British I only knew of about half these great illustrators before making the video, And if you havent already seen it I have a video on the channel titled The Early Years of Mad.

[@riverwildcat1]

@@petebeard I will definitely look at the early MAD magazine!

[@alexwithd]

Awesome video. Didn't know I loved this period so much. I learned so many new names! Thank you for making this (a few years ago) :-)

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm very pleaed you found the video and enjoyed it. Some personal favourites of mine in there.

[@dont-want-no-wrench]

there was some fine work done at the time, there was also too much of the =photograph made into a painting= style. the next generation in the 60's broke out in different directions. the environment that allowed all this to happen, though, is gone now. alas for illustration. btw, imo the genius of rockwell was his ability to set the scene and composition of, usually a simple idea. his earlier and mid career work was best.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for the comment about this fascinating cultural period.

[@dirkthedaring5131]

Fantastic video! Learned so much!

[@petebeard]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks.

[@williamthethespian]

Wow. So much information. There is at least a college semesters worth of material here. Overwhelming, actually.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm very grateful for your appeciation.

[@Susie_Floozie]

The Dewey Cox soft drink ad at 10:14 threw me for a loop--you mean the character in WALK HARD was based on a real '50s guy?! I had to look it up and found out that's a recent poster by Chloe Bristol that she did in the style of Cliff Roberts. She really caught his signature look!

[@petebeard]

Hello again, and that's all news to me...I'm too British to have known the reference points.And I got another comment from you about this video but it popped up in my mail and not on youtube, strangely. But I have to thank you for the name Fritz Willis who is now on my 'to do' list. And I'm intrigued by your reference to Tease! but the link you sent either doesn't go there or I'm too dense to know how to access it from the site.

[@Cymbelin]

As a woman of a certain age, I thoroughly enjoyed watching that. Took me an hour... All the pausing. :)

[@petebeard]

Hllo and thanks for the comment. It's not my main intention to send viewers off down memory lane but judging by many comments some of the videos or the illustratrs featured do just that. They certainly do in my case.

[@v_vlps]

I love the video, thank you so much. We don't often find this kind of information about specific retro art. I would love to see more!

[@petebeard]

Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@jawbee7]

They are masters of color 😳

[@mr.stevenk.p.goodson-bey.8658]

The Africa illusionracition and the 1970 or 1980

[@petebeard]

?

[@junomaranan1101]

I did not grow up in was 50's & was born decades later. But if companies advertised their products in this illustrative, artistic style nowadays, I just might be taken in & buy their products.

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your comment. Sadly it's mostly photography these days. Very dull.

[@finddeniro]

Fabric . . Colors and designs..I can dream of Memories..

[@petebeard]

Hello and it does seem that this video - and its Brit equivalent - have been a bit of time travel for quite a few viewers of a certain age.

[@me-ps3vb]

😊😊

[@spinnettdesigns]

Thank you for your wonderful videos…love the one on A. Mucha… When I was growing up, we had a book in the house by Andrew Loomis and I was totally enchanted by it: Fun With A Pencil. I loved the zaniness of his drawings (I was born in 1962) and loved the Looney Tunes art as well as Mary Blair’s work and the many wonderful colorful childrens books illustrations from the 50’s and 60’s.…I still buy them when I see them at a thrift store. I am back to drawing (more like doodling) every day and am enjoying it immensely. I could watch all of your videos for hours, I enjoy them so much, and again, thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@petebeard]

Hello and many thanks for your generous comments about the channel. It means a lot to me to know that viewers really appreciate what I'm trying to do. I don't know if you have already seen it but Andrew Loomis is featured in unsung heroes 53. Keep on drawing - it's good for the soul...

[@spinnettdesigns]

@@petebeard Thank you Pete! I’ll definitely look up #53. I had to stop watching them because I was transfixed watching one after the other… I took an aptitude test one time that said my best occupation would be « Art therapist » So I’ve never done anything « fine » but I enjoy all forms and mediums of art too, and I’m not worried about becoming proficient but rather, to have the joy. (I play piano and study languages for the same reasons) Looking back, for decades I’ve invited (mostly) young ones over to do art because I wanted everyone to have that joy…as you say, it’s so valuable for so many reasons…to many to count. Lately I’m doing neurographic art and Zentangle, which are helpful for those who feel that they have no « ability » but these help them see that doesn’t matter, they can still produce something pleasant or interesting. Thanks again Pete, I’m so grateful for your videos and I enjoy your voice and diction too 👏👌

[@TrofArtTV]

🌹

[@jonesy4588]

back when America was really great ! No one bothered our statues or hijacked our cars or sold dope on the corner .

[@petebeard]

Hello and as an old Englishman I won't comment on your comment about the USA, but that's pretty much how I feel about the madness that seems to have overtaken this little island recently. Or is just that I'm old?

[@johnsor2083]

Amazing artwork

[@stardresser1]

Another brilliant episode. So fun, these i actually remember from my childhood! Thank you so much, so wonderfully done.

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it. The 'memory lane' aspect of some of the videos seems to have been an unexpected bonus

[@BrainwavesBinauralBeats]

amazing

[@rickcroucher]

What is the harmonica piece that shows up around 3:29? Love the 50's American illustrators of my youth.

[@petebeard]

Hello Rick. The tune in question is titled 'Off Shore and it's credited to someone called Leo Diamond. I must have downloaded it (probably in breach of copyright) from KZbin so a search there should take you to it.

[@rickcroucher]

@@petebeard Thank you. It was easy to find as you said. Those old instrumentals get me in some way. I have his album playing in the background now. Thanks again.

[@alliehartom5978]

For some lovely reason, this video came up in my recommended feed and I couldn't be happier! It looks like you have so many of my favorite illustrators from my childhood, I can't wait to binge watch all of your videos. New subscriber, you have the perfect voice for narrating these, thank you so much!

[@petebeard]

Hello and I'm delighted you've subscribed. And I hope you continue to find content that's of interest.

[@pprehn5268]

It's fascinating to observe the evolution of illustration as the footsteps of their time

[@petebeard]

Hello and thanks for your comment and observation.

[@pprehn5268]

@@petebeard As a former enthusiastic stamp collector watching those miniscule posters of their time, I do find the various styles simultaneously developing, fascinating, especially as a BA in History🎃 Happy Halloween

[@kenl2861]

That Was AWESOME

[@sonostodos]

As ilustrações de Gil Elvgren são as mais lindas

[@petebeard]

Olá e eu concordamos totalmente. Ele é um herói meu.