Society of Illustrators
Encyclopedia
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City
. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history. The Society encourages high ideals through exhibitions, lectures, education, and by fostering a sense of community and open discussion.
, Maxfield Parrish
, N.C. Wyeth, Charles Dana Gibson
, Frederic Remington
, James Montgomery Flagg
and Howard Chandler Christy
.
During the World War I
years, Society members worked through the Division of Pictorial Publicity, creating many original poster designs, including James M. Flagg
's US Army recruiting poster of Uncle Sam
. Eight Society members, commissioned Captains in the Engineers, were sent to France to sketch the war. After the war, the Society operated the School for Disabled Soldiers.
band and Jimmy Durante
also performed. Through member Watson Barrett, the Illustrator's Show of 1925 was held at the Shubert Theatre
, and the Shuberts purchased the rights to the skits for their Broadway productions of Artists and Models
.
In time, those funds allowed the Society to acquire its present headquarters, at 128 East 63rd Street. Norman Rockwell
's Dover Coach became the backdrop for the bar on the fourth floor. This painting currently hangs in the Members Dining Room.
During World War II
, the Society again contributed to the effort with a massive campaign of posters, illustrations and visits to veterans’ hospitals to sketch the wounded. These pictures were sent to families to help boost morale. The Illustrator's Jazz Band was formed to entertain the wounded. In 1946, a Welfare Fund for indigent artists was established. In 1948, the Joint Ethics Committee developed the first Code of Fair Practice. Lectures and demonstrations filled the house during those years.
In 1954, the U.S. Air Force began sending members around the world to document its activities. This program continues today. Thousands of paintings have been contributed over the years. The first Scholarship Fund was established in the early 50s and, in 1959, Norman Rockwell became the first member elected to the Society's hall of fame.
, Bradbury Thompson
, Stevan Dohanos
and others. It opened with 350 original works of art and led to the publication of the first Illustrators Annual. In 2008, the Society celebrated its 50th Annual Exhibition.
Other notable events include the filming of Loving (1969) with George Segal
portraying a frustrated illustrator; the Warwick (NY) Training School for Boys Saturday school (1961–65); The antiwar show "Genocide" (1972); the Bicentennial Show at the New-York Historical Society
(1976–77); and the publication of 200 Years of American Illustration and The Illustrator in America; outreach programs to the Police Athletic League
(1966–present); the New York City Parks Department (2001–present), and the New York City Board of Education (1999–present); the donation to shelters and charities of over 6,000 children's books (1992–present).
The Museum of American Illustration was established in 1981. Today the permanent collection includes nearly 1800 works by such artists as Norman Rockwell, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, James Montgomery Flagg, Bob Peak and Bernie Fuchs. 2001 was the Society's centennial year, a 12-month celebration begun with the U.S. Postal issue, Great American Illustrators. That year was punctuated with the 9/11 Memorial Exhibition, Prevailing Human Spirit.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history. The Society encourages high ideals through exhibitions, lectures, education, and by fostering a sense of community and open discussion.
Founding and history
On February 1, 1901, a group of nine artists and one advising businessman founded the Society with this credo: "The object of the Society shall be to promote generally the art of illustration and to hold exhibitions from time to time." Attendees to the first monthly dinners included Howard PyleHoward Pyle
Howard Pyle was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy.__FORCETOC__...
, Maxfield Parrish
Maxfield Parrish
Maxfield Parrish was an American painter and illustrator active in the first half of the twentieth century. He is known for his distinctive saturated hues and idealized neo-classical imagery.-Life:...
, N.C. Wyeth, Charles Dana Gibson
Charles Dana Gibson
Charles Dana Gibson was an American graphic artist, best known for his creation of the Gibson Girl, an iconic representation of the beautiful and independent American woman at the turn of the 20th century....
, Frederic Remington
Frederic Remington
Frederic Sackrider Remington was an American painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer who specialized in depictions of the Old American West, specifically concentrating on the last quarter of the 19th century American West and images of cowboys, American Indians, and the U. S...
, James Montgomery Flagg
James Montgomery Flagg
James Montgomery Flagg was an American artist and illustrator. He worked in media ranging from fine art painting to cartooning, but is best remembered for his political posters....
and Howard Chandler Christy
Howard Chandler Christy
Howard Chandler Christy was an American artist and illustrator famous for the "Christy Girl", similar to a "Gibson Girl".He was born in Morgan County and attended early school in Duncan Falls, Ohio...
.
During the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
years, Society members worked through the Division of Pictorial Publicity, creating many original poster designs, including James M. Flagg
James Montgomery Flagg
James Montgomery Flagg was an American artist and illustrator. He worked in media ranging from fine art painting to cartooning, but is best remembered for his political posters....
's US Army recruiting poster of Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is a common national personification of the American government originally used during the War of 1812. He is depicted as a stern elderly man with white hair and a goatee beard...
. Eight Society members, commissioned Captains in the Engineers, were sent to France to sketch the war. After the war, the Society operated the School for Disabled Soldiers.
1920s
In 1920, the Society was incorporated, and women became full members. The 1920s and 1930s were the heyday of the Illustrator's Shows. These theatrical skits featured the artists and their models as actors, songwriters, set designers and painters. Professional talent such as the Cotton ClubCotton Club
The Cotton Club was a famous night club in Harlem, New York City that operated during Prohibition that included jazz music. While the club featured many of the greatest African American entertainers of the era, such as Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Adelaide Hall, Count Basie, Bessie Smith,...
band and Jimmy Durante
Jimmy Durante
James Francis "Jimmy" Durante was an American singer, pianist, comedian and actor. His distinctive clipped gravelly speech, comic language butchery, jazz-influenced songs, and large nose helped make him one of America's most familiar and popular personalities of the 1920s through the 1970s...
also performed. Through member Watson Barrett, the Illustrator's Show of 1925 was held at the Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre or Shubert Theater may refer to:Theatres*Shubert Theatre , New York City, built in 1913.*Shubert Theatre , Connecticut, built in 1914.*Shubert Theatre , California, demolished in 2002....
, and the Shuberts purchased the rights to the skits for their Broadway productions of Artists and Models
Artists and Models
Artists and Models is a 1955 Paramount musical comedy in VistaVision and marked Martin and Lewis's fourteenth feature together as a team. The film co-stars Dorothy Malone, Eva Gabor, Anita Ekberg, and Shirley MacLaine.-Plot:...
.
In time, those funds allowed the Society to acquire its present headquarters, at 128 East 63rd Street. Norman Rockwell
Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell was a 20th-century American painter and illustrator. His works enjoy a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations of everyday life scenarios he created for The Saturday Evening...
's Dover Coach became the backdrop for the bar on the fourth floor. This painting currently hangs in the Members Dining Room.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Society again contributed to the effort with a massive campaign of posters, illustrations and visits to veterans’ hospitals to sketch the wounded. These pictures were sent to families to help boost morale. The Illustrator's Jazz Band was formed to entertain the wounded. In 1946, a Welfare Fund for indigent artists was established. In 1948, the Joint Ethics Committee developed the first Code of Fair Practice. Lectures and demonstrations filled the house during those years.
In 1954, the U.S. Air Force began sending members around the world to document its activities. This program continues today. Thousands of paintings have been contributed over the years. The first Scholarship Fund was established in the early 50s and, in 1959, Norman Rockwell became the first member elected to the Society's hall of fame.
Annual Exhibitions
In 1959, the Society held its first Annual Exhibition, juried by Bob PeakBob Peak
Robert "Bob" M. Peak was an American commercial illustrator best known for innovative design in the development of the modern movie poster....
, Bradbury Thompson
Bradbury Thompson
Bradbury Thompson was an influential American graphic designer and art director of the twentieth century.-Life and work:Communication Arts said of Bradbury "When it came to the blending of photography, typography and color, nobody did it better than Bradbury Thompson.....
, Stevan Dohanos
Stevan Dohanos
Stevan Dohanos was an artist and illustrator of the social realism school, best known for his Saturday Evening Post covers, and responsible for several of the Don't Talk set of World War II propaganda posters. He named Grant Wood and Edward Hopper as the greatest influences on his painting.Dohanos...
and others. It opened with 350 original works of art and led to the publication of the first Illustrators Annual. In 2008, the Society celebrated its 50th Annual Exhibition.
Other notable events include the filming of Loving (1969) with George Segal
George Segal
George Segal is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:George Segal, Jr. was born in 1934 Great Neck, Long Island, New York, the son of Fannie Blanche and George Segal, Sr. He was educated at George School, a private Quaker preparatory boarding school near Newtown, Bucks County,...
portraying a frustrated illustrator; the Warwick (NY) Training School for Boys Saturday school (1961–65); The antiwar show "Genocide" (1972); the Bicentennial Show at the New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
The New-York Historical Society is an American history museum and library located in New York City at the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West in Manhattan. Founded in 1804 as New York's first museum, the New-York Historical Society presents exhibitions, public programs and research that...
(1976–77); and the publication of 200 Years of American Illustration and The Illustrator in America; outreach programs to the Police Athletic League
Police Athletic League
The Police Athletic League is an organization in many American police departments in which members of the police force coach young people, both boys and girls, in sports, and help with homework and other school-related activities. The purpose is to build character, help strengthen police-community...
(1966–present); the New York City Parks Department (2001–present), and the New York City Board of Education (1999–present); the donation to shelters and charities of over 6,000 children's books (1992–present).
The Museum of American Illustration was established in 1981. Today the permanent collection includes nearly 1800 works by such artists as Norman Rockwell, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, James Montgomery Flagg, Bob Peak and Bernie Fuchs. 2001 was the Society's centennial year, a 12-month celebration begun with the U.S. Postal issue, Great American Illustrators. That year was punctuated with the 9/11 Memorial Exhibition, Prevailing Human Spirit.