I recently visited the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston Salem, NC, which is currently hosting a wonderful retrospective of J.C. Leyendecker’s work.
This exhibit covers J.C.’s career through a selection of 42 original paintings, and more than 100 vintage Saturday Evening post covers. Well curated, with wonderfully insightful commentary placed throughout the exhibit, makes this truly one of the finest shows I’ve seen in recent years.
The Museum allows photography, so I was able to snap a few close-up photos that I’m excited to share here.
The exhibit includes several paintings I’ve never seen before…
As well as some truly iconic pieces…
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The Museum is not that busy, and many of the paintings are not under glass, which means Artists will be happy to know that you can get an exceptionally good look at the paintings, and really appreciate the paint application on the surface…
I still have a hard time believing that most of these paintings are pushing 100 years old, and still look so stylistically fresh and modern, they could easily grace newsstands today!
The Reynolda House is just a 20 minute drive from the Greensboro Airport (or about 80 minutes from Charlotte), and is well worth a trip just to see. The exhibit will hang until December 31st, 2019.
More info here: https://www.reynoldahouse.org/exhibitions/detail/leyendecker-and-the-golden-age-of-american-illustration
Dan: Thanks for this post. One thing that struck me — AGAIN — is the angularity of his work. I used to study with a painter/teacher who kept saying, “See how square you can draw a circle.” Beside the fact that Mr. L is an incredible artist, his use of straight lines adds a high degree of solidity to his work.
…….. Richard; Also note, the linear and faceted construction of his values. His scratch board and engraved approach to all of that, is absolutely SPECTACULAR!. — JC is probably the MOST INFLUENTIAL! illustrator of the 20th Century. — Even one critic has said that his signiture, alone, would garner him numerous graphic design awards.
Dan: Thanks for this post. I wondering, Jc leyemndecker art apàrt wich is still oustanding, How did you do such a perfect phptographs? what’s the camera did you use?. AMAIZING POST