Since I discovered the earlier version (1883-1936) of Life magazine this fall, I’ve been browsing through its content and covers: this Life 1.0 was a very different medium than its successor! I put together a portfolio of Christmas covers for a post, and then I realized that the work of one particular illustrator was more interesting, whatever the seasonal expression. These covers are the work of Clarence Coles Phillips (1880-1927), known first as C. Coles Phillips and for most of his career as Coles Phillips: an innovative illustrator who utilized the technique of negative space (and imagination) to portray a series of stylish and independent women on the covers of Life (and other periodicals) from 1908 to the end of his short life. The Christmas cover from 1909 caught my attention first, but it is not my favorite: I just love the ladies playing with boy toys in 1911—-a far cry from the Gibson Girls who preceded them!
December 22, 1909
October 14, 1909/ March 3, 1910/ May 12, 2010/ July 27, 1911/ August 24, 1911/ August 31, 1911/ September 28, 1911/ November 30, 1911/ June 13, 1912/ December 26, 1912/ April 7, 1921/ May 13, 1926. All covers from MagazineArt.org.
December 19th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Interesting style how the women’s dresses were painted the same colors as the backgrounds, but because of the details, you can still figure out the shapes of them.
December 19th, 2018 at 10:24 pm
I know–our minds fill in the blanks.
December 19th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Wow! Those are incredible. I wouldn’t have expected the woman with the par and short skirt within that time period.
December 19th, 2018 at 10:23 pm
I think she’s a sporty woman, so it’s ok!
December 21st, 2018 at 11:19 am
Arent they wonderful, funny and perceptive at the same time, both of the women and of the period!