From the beginning of the 20th century, demand for original art to illustrate books and magazines grew dramatically, especially with the onset of improved printing and production techniques. In the 1920s and 1930s a few artists in the United States—where the demand for magazine illustration grew enormously—became household names through illustration such as N.C. Wyeth, W.H.D. Koerner, J.C. Leyendecker, Maxfield Parrish, and the artists represented in this exhibition. Created during the American “Golden Age of Illustration,” which lasted from the 1880s until shortly after World War I, the pieces presented in Wanda Gág, Howard Cook, and Barbara Latham: 20 Years of Illustrations were completed for both magazines and children’s books.

This exhibition focuses on the works of three artists who began their careers as illustrators: Wanda Gág, Howard Cook, and Barbara Latham. Gág and Latham both had long careers in children’s book illustration, with several books still in publication.  Cook traveled throughout the world creating woodblock prints for magazines such as Forum, Harpers, and Reader’s Digest. Together they represent an overview of the styles and subjects popular in publications during the 1920s and 1930s.

Illustration art is unique in that it is dictated by assignment, format, and subject matter and conveys ideas through pictorial representation linked with narrative. By being removed from their narrative context, illustrations are left open for interpretation. Also, by standing alone, they can be appreciated for their artistic merits and subject matter, serving as visual records of the decades represented in this exhibition.