Friday, April 26, 2024

New Neighbors: Charles E. Martin Original New Yorker Cover Art

Postwar real estate development provided the inspiration for a number of New Yorker covers including the one that graced the issue of May 26, 1960. The artist was Charles E. Martin, who signed his work CEM. His original artwork was sold on Tuesday at Heritage Auctions. The auction house's listing calls the piece New Neighbors, which is an excellent title for it.

Charles E. Martin
Original art
The New Yorker, May 26, 1962


Martin's colors are darker in the foreground and brighter in the distance.
Charles E. Martin
Framed original art
The New Yorker, May 26, 1962
The backing reveals that the work was previously owned by artist Thomas George (1918-2014). Thoughtfully-preserved printing instructions indicate that the strap, or left-sided edge of the cover, was to be printed just as Martin painted it, and the magazine's logo was to be colored yellow, matching the plants in the foreground. (Heritage's first photo did not include the strap, an inexcusable practice in the proper presentation of New Yorker cover art.)

Charles E. Martin
Heritage Auctions listing of April 23, 2024


Charles E. Martin
Heritage Auctions item description


Charles E. Martin
The New Yorker, May 26, 1962

Charles E. Martin
Original art
The New Yorker, 
May 26, 1962






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