""He bent down and kissed her" Illustration for the Post"   Lot no. 4807

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By Ray Prohaska (1901-1981)

1942
20" x 14"
Watercolor on Paper
Signed Center Left

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Magazine story illustration for “Hero Come Home” by Ruth Burr Sanborn for The Saturday Evening Post, published September 12, 1942, page 24.

This sentimental illustration, accompanying Ruth Burr Sanborn's "Hero Come Home" in The Saturday Evening Post, captures a passionate embrace between a World War II soldier and a young woman during a picnic. The story centers on the woman, whose love for an aviator is complicated by his recent wartime heroics, leading her to fear that his newfound fame may deter him from proposing amidst the social whirl of eager admirers. The accompanying caption, "He had changed. His eyes were quieter, more thoughtful and less fierce. He bent down and kissed her," perfectly encapsulates the intimacy of the moment. The spontaneity of the kiss is beautifully underscored by the haphazardly strewn picnic dishes and the discarded single strappy sandals and uniform hat that lay in the grass. Presented unframed, the watercolor displays minor signs of age, including occasional light creasing and faint discolorations. 

 

Ray Prohaska, a celebrated illustrator who contributed to leading mid-century publications such as Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, and The Saturday Evening Post, was a rare talent who bridged the growing divide between "serious" painting and commercial art. His success as an abstract expressionist painter solidified his reputation and allowed him to transcend the traditional boundaries of illustration.

 

Unframed



Explore related art collections: Romance / Military/Soldiers / $100 - $5,000 / Magazine Stories / 1940s

See all original artwork by Ray Prohaska