International studio (59.1916)

Art and the Magazine Cover


Courtesy The Ladies' Home Journal

There is nothing so compelling
custom. Force of habit tends

usual
and
We
“The

tions from Trouville or Dieppe. Venus in a
crimson cap with lips to match emerges from the
crest of a purple wave, giving a pleasing and
anticipatory suggestion of Atlantic City. And
so ad infinitum. The brew is very simple, the
only ingredient for a thousand such dishes is a
fashion-plate beauty and a change of condiments
to suit the palate.
Of recent years a change for the better has been
noticeable and a slight relief from Kiss-mammy
and Lovely Alice, with other banalities, has
sporadically attracted attention. Amid this
welter of prize beauties, bewitching madonnas,
and all-too-attractive Phrynes, a cover ap-
peared in March of a totally different nature
and immediately invited notice throughout the
States; and, strange to say, the design contained
no trace of Lovely Alice nor of any of her sisters.
It was birds.

as
to
deaden the senses to fitness, and it is only when
some bold innovator comes along and blazes a
fresh trail that we commence to realize how futile
the old track has been. We need shaking and
waking in all departments. For years we have
been confronted, and are still being confronted,
with different insipid types of magazine cover
designs stretching in interminable rows at the
bookstalls, tier upon tier, heralding each new
issue of the popular magazine. These types may
be generally summed up as “Kiss-mammy,”
“Pretty Girl,” and “Suggestive.”
Dozens of periodicals vie with one another,
week by week, or month by month, in reproduc-
ing chorus girls and artists’
models in every conceivable
pose, with blonde tresses
cherry lips, and the
battery of forceful
abounding charms.
have no quarrel with
Pretty Girl” per se, but it
is possible to have too much
of her. The news stalls
fairly bristle and blaze with
visions of fair damsels play¬
ing their part, according to
the season. The winter
cover portrays a ravishing
face hovering above a huge
muff with a saucy little cap
to match, and a discreet
sprinkling of snow to give
the proper winter spirit. A
fine rhythmic composition
is attained by the skating
and skiing maid whilst the
motoring and tobogganing
ladies are captivating vari¬
ants of the eternal theme.
Just at present the ap¬
proaching bathing season
gives the artist grand oppor¬
tunities for depicting gleam¬
ing necks and rosy limbs
encased in neat little crea-

< RT AND THE MAGAZINE COVER
/\ BY W. H. de B. NELSON

A COVER DESIGN

BY W. J. AYLWARD

IX