Walt Reed's Illustrator in America tells us that Schwinn was born in 1907, wanted to be a fashion designer from the age of 12, studied at Parson's ( both in New York and Paris) and began her professional career drawing fashions and accessories for department stores. I was surprised to learn that her next job was drawing "continuity comic strips" (I wonder which ones?) before settling into the magazine illustration career I'm more familiar with.
Over time Schwinn's specialty seems to have become portraiture, as more and more often was evident in the type of magazine assignments she produced.
Reed's biography of Schwinn states that she was commissioned to paint the portraits of Queen Sirikit, Princess Margaret and Princess Grace, Deborah Kerr, Conrad Hilton and many others.
* My Barbara Schwinn Flickr set.
* Also: Be sure to visit Charlie Allen's Blog for the latest CAWS: "Odds and Ends"
Has anyone noticed that, starting with your post on Arpi Ermoyan, the female illustrators are a whole lot better looking than the male illustrators?
ReplyDeleteHah. Very funny, Anonymous. :^)
ReplyDeleteHer illustration of the "Imperfect Lady" looks like it may have been loosely referenced from a photo of Kim Novak. Just my guess though.
ReplyDeleteI think not:
DeleteThe Imperfect lady. By I. A. R. Wylie.
(In Today's woman, Feb. 1950) © 18Jan50
That would be years before Kim Novak ever made a movie. She would have been seventeen at the time.
Barbara Schwing!
ReplyDeleteWow She is wearing lovely Very informative post! There is a lot of information here that can help any business get started =
ReplyDeletefrock for girls, i love the confidence, the way she is carrying her frock.