"“Don’t make a beeline for the prettiest girl in the room.”" Lot no. 808
By Ralph Palen Coleman 1892-1968
1937 (Estimated)
32.5" x 32.5", Framed 38.75" x 38.75"
Oil on Canvas
Signed Lower Left
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Illustration on the subject of popularity for the advice column “Father Meets Son” by J. P. McEvoy for The Saturday Evening Post, published October 30, 1937, page 136.
The full caption reads: “When you go to a party don’t make the mistake that most callow youths make — Don’t make a beeline for the prettiest girl in the room.”
In the 1930s, humorist J.P. McEvoy penned the Post column "Father Meets Son," a series of letters offering his son – and by extension, readers – advice on navigating life's challenges. With a blend of wry humor and tough love, "Dad" dispensed wisdom on everything from career choices to navigating the complexities of human relationships. The column proved immensely popular with readers.
The October 30, 1937, installment delved into the topic of popularity. "Popularity can be a subtle poison," Dad cautioned, urging his son not to overvalue the admiration of his peers. Instead, he encouraged readers to seek the attention and approval of older individuals, particularly older women.
The accompanying image vividly captures this social dynamic in action. A young man, his dark hair slicked back, is engrossed in conversation with a distinguished older woman, who appears captivated by his words. However, the viewer's eye is irresistibly drawn to a striking young woman in a vibrant red gown. Leaning back against the edge of a table, she gazes intently at the young man, seemingly unnoticed by the object of her attention, who has instead chosen the company of the more mature woman. This poignant scene unfolds amidst the lively chatter and elegant ambiance of a bustling party.
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See all original artwork by Ralph Palen Coleman
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Over his long career, Ralph Pallen Coleman illustrated stories by many famous authors including Somerset Maugham, Rex Beach, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Louis Bromfield and Clarence Budington Kelland; this work appeared in most of the magazines.
Coleman, who was educated at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art, sold his first illustration to The Saturday Evening Post in 1919. His work appeared regularly thereafter in the Post and other magazines for over twenty years. He also found time in his busy career to paint many portraits and a number of murals in churches in Jenkintown, Lancaster, and Montoursville, Pennsylvania, and in Wilmington, Delaware. In addition, he executed a series of paintings depicting the Life of Christ for the George Washington Memorial Park in White Marsh, Pennsylvania.