""The Ex Husband's Glance in Return is Not Unkindly" Post Illustration " Lot no. 3052
By James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960)
1907 (Estimated)
22.00" x 15.00"
Ink, Wash and Pencil on Paper Laid Down on Board
Signed Lower Right
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Original illustration for the article “Slumming Among the Four Hundred” by Alfred Henry Lewis, for The Saturday Evening Post, published November 2, 1907.
The article "Slumming Among the Four Hundred" satirically examines the lives of New York’s “Four Hundred,” the Gilded Age high society led by Mrs. Astor, humorously mocking their social customs. Focusing on courtship and marriage, the author portrays men as subject to the romantic whims of their female counterparts. He observes, “Particularly, I considered the female of the Four Hundred. She is, for one thing, the ruling influence; the males come and go by her commands. These latter are members, or are not members, of the tribe as she decides. She takes them in, or casts them out, at will. She has more force, more wit, more genius for decision than has the male. Often she is larger physically, and in every way vastly more formidable.”
James Montgomery Flagg’s witty illustration visually reinforces this dynamic. A stylish, affluent woman confidently leads a young man, who exchanges a knowing, eyebrow-raised glance with an older gentleman, presumably the woman’s ex-husband, subtly underscoring the article’s commentary on the era’s social dynamics within this elite circle.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
James Montgomery Flagg lived with gusto. He epitomized the public concept of the handsome, bohemian artist, surrounded by beautiful models, dashing off pictures with sheer exuberance of talent. In Flagg’s case, this was nearly true. He worked rapidly and easily in all media and with any subject matter. Humor and satire were his special forte.
Early in his career he did a cartoon entitled “Nervy Nat,” and for many years he illustrated the zany characters of the P. G. Wodehouse stories and created the prototypical interpretation of the valet, “Jeeves.” His rapid portrait studies and incisive caricatures were prized by many prominent sitters.
For over thirty years he turned out an immense amount of work, including many posters during World War I. Probably his best known illustration was the famous “I Want You” Uncle Sam recruiting poster. Over four million copies of this were printed and distributed throughout the country.
Flagg was a painter of serious portraits, too. He exhibited in the Paris salon of 1900, at the National Academy of Design, and the New York Watercolor Club. He was elected to the Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1980.