Friday, June 28, 2013

Tailored for War: Perry Barlow New Yorker Cover Art

In 2009, an example of original New Yorker cover art by Perry Barlow was sold at Heritage Auctions. The 1942 illustration imagines a world where a well-to-do young man prepares for wartime by heading out to an exclusive tailor. The United States had recently entered the second World War, declaring war on Japan on December 8, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. Germany declared war on the U.S. four days later and America reciprocated by declaring war on Germany on December 11 of that year.

It's a fine piece of cover art, although the original has some condition issues; it is light struck and has pasted-on art corrections. The auction sales price of $478 seems very low, and is perhaps a result of the dated subject matter more than the condition of the artwork.

Perry Barlow, Original Artwork for The New Yorker, April 18, 1942
Perry Barlow, The New Yorker, April 18, 1942




Perry Barlow, Original Artwork for The New Yorker, April 18, 1942

Note:  This is the first appearance here of Perry Barlow and I accept full responsibility for the glaring oversight. You know, you just might be able to convince me to display additional artwork by this illustrator if you have any you'd care to share. How about it, folks?

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