"Puppies for Sale, Post Cover" Lot no. 4801
By Stevan Dohanos (American- 1907-1994)
1950
Image 30" x 24"
Oil on Canvas
Signed Lower Left
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Cover of The Saturday Evening Post, September 30, 1950
Puppies for Sale, the cover illustration for the September 30, 1950, issue of The Saturday Evening Post, is a remarkable example of Dohanos’ skill in capturing the essence of childhood innocence and the simple pleasures of life. The painting evokes a nostalgic atmosphere, highlighting the joy of life's uncomplicated moments, while portraying a seemingly ideal American family. This depiction of a father, mother, and their young son contemplating the decision to “take home a pal,” as the sign suggests, reflects broader cultural trends of the 1950s. By emphasizing traditional values and an idealized family dynamic, Dohanos’ work helped shape a national identity centered on peace, optimism, and, perhaps, the comforting presence of a pet dog.
Explore related art collections: 1950s / Saturday Evening Post Covers / Animals / Dogs & Cats
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Stevan Dohanos made his mark as a nationally famous cover artist for The Saturday Evening Post and chronicler of Americana, but he began at the bottom.
He studied nights at the Cleveland School of Art long enough to get a job as an apprentice letterer, and gradually developed a solid studio background. A hard worker, he simultaneously painted and printed woodcuts for national exhibitions.
In 1936, he painted an assignment for the Treasury Art Project in the Virgin Islands, and later, various mural commissions for federal buildings in Elkins, West Virginia; West Palm Beach, Florida; and Charlotte Amalie, Virgin Islands. His pictures are in the collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Avery Memorial of Hartford, and the New Britain Museum of American Art.
His illustrations have appeared in almost all of the major magazines; he painted over 100 covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Twice a victim of tuberculosis himself, Dohanos contributed Christmas seal designs to the National Tuberculosis Association, and made many posters and designs for national and local charitable purposes. He designed well over forty stamps for the U.S. Postal Service, and for several years he served on the Citizen Stamp Advisory Committee for the Postmaster General and as its Design Coordinator.
Dohanos was a member of the National Society of Mural Painters, the Artists and Writers club, the Dutch Treat Club. He served as President of the Society of Illustrators from 1961-63, was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1971, and served as Honorary President from 1982 until his death.