"The Candidate, Saturday Evening Post Cover"   Lot no. 3689

Saturday Evening Post Cover, September 18, 1920

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Leyendecker addressed the theme of American patriotism in several ways. His famous Fourth of July covers asserted the import of American independence through stock characters: George Washington, Uncle Sam, the Statue of Liberty, colonial Freedom Fighters, and modern-day soldiers. In addition, his World War I and World War II covers depicted soldiers proudly defending their country. Leyendecker also profiled U.S. presidents and historical figures - George Washington, Robert E. Lee, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson -- who embodied dedicated leadership on behalf of the country.

Another of Leyendecker's popular patriotic types was the political candidate. His November 4, 1916 cover, for example, shows a candidate in a bowler hat delivering a stump speech, wildly gesticulating with his outstretched arm and raised fist. This particular 1920 cover, The Candidate, captures a politician wearing a flag sash and appealing to his audience in a different fashion, with a concerned, empathetic expression and his hand placed over his heart in a gesture of honor. The frontal stance of the candidate, as well as his top hat, tailored suit, and gold watch fob, also resembles that of the upper-class industrialist on Leyendecker's October 5, 1907 cover, Getting Rich Quick.

See all original artwork by Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Explore related art collections: Saturday Evening Post Covers / $100,000 & Above / Patriotic/Political / Magazine Covers