"Collier's Weekly Magazine Cover" Lot no. 4631
By Clarence Coles Phillips (American- 1880-1927)
1921
21.75" x 14.75"
Gouache and watercolor on board
Signed Lower Left
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Collier's Weekly magazine cover, April 23, 1921
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See all original artwork by Clarence Coles Phillips
ABOUT THE ARTIST
The “Fadeaway Girl” was the particular hallmark of Coles Phillips: he pictured fashionably beautiful young women, using the device of tying the figure into the background by either color, value or patterns. This approach produced an intriguing poster-like effect of great simplicity; actually it was based on the most careful preliminary planning of shapes to carry out the illusion of the full figure.
Phillips was born in Springfield, Ohio, and had his first pictures reproduced as a student contributor to the Kenyon College Monthly magazine. Upon graduation, he tackled a New York career, first as a solicitor for an advertising agency. Later he formed his own studio of artists, including the young Edward Hopper. After further study at the Chase Art School, he decided to launch his art career. His first effort was sold to the old Life magazine as a double-paged spread. When Life began to use color on its covers, the “Fadeaway Girl” made her initial appearance and was an instant success. For many years thereafter, she appeared in a variety of guises, but was always a patrician beauty.
Phillips prided himself on being a good businessman-artist. His pictures, both for covers and for advertising campaigns including Holeproof Hosiery and Community Plate Silverware, were the product of a meticulous, cerebral craftsman.