Cover -- The Last Course.

Irvin, Rea. (1881- 1972)

1916-02-17

Periodicals -- Illustrations.

Caricatures and cartoons.

Advertising, Magazine -- United States -- History.

Life magazine covers were on a variety of topics. Each issue had a theme that was introduced by the cover and reflected throughout the issue. While this one did not have a titled theme, the cover is reminiscent of the Arabian Nights or the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

Rea Irvin was born in San Francisco in 1881, He began his career as an unpaid cartoonist for the San Francisco Examiner. His formal art training was at the Hopkins Art Institute, where he stayed for 6 months. He moved to New York at the age of 25 and became a contributor to several publications, including Life. He rose to the position of art editor at Life. He also worked as a commercial artist. Irvin was fired from Life in 1924, but was soon hired by the New Yorker, where he was responsible for much of the design of the magazine, and was also responsible for the first cover of the magazine as well as the New Yorker typeface. For Life Magazine, he did a number of themed series that appeared over several months, mostly with historical themes. He retired to the Virgin Islands and died there in 1972 at the age of 90.

Full color cover. While Irvin was a more prolific cartoonist than cover artist, he later became famous for his covers of the New Yorker.

Volume 67, number 1738, cover.

Scholars wishing to cite this item should include item title, volume and issue, Life, New York, N.Y: Life, date, Jen Library Archives and Special Collections periodical collection, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the item's url.

Life, New York, NY: Life, 1883-1936 Life, New York, NY: Life, 1883-1936

Image

Illustration

9 1/2 x 11 inches

Print on paper

Copyright is retained by the authors or artists of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.