Item Description:
Up for sale is a highly collectible, historically significant original 1930s WPA-era hand-inked and watercolored cartoon advertisement layout by the celebrated American illustrator, cartoonist, and printmaker Ellison Hoover (1888–1955).
This exceptional piece of American graphic design history features a dramatic maritime scene, depicting a man clinging to the rigging of a vessel labeled \"SWEETHEART\" amidst heavy crashing waves. The bottom right features the distinctive production inscription \"WAS FAINT,\" a technical layout instruction utilized during Hoover\'s lithographic print and cartoon syndicate production processes to guide ink saturation and line weight.
Bonus Studio Drawing on Reverse:
Adding incredible value and an intimate look into the artist\'s working process, the reverse side of the backing board features a fantastic, original hand-drawn mathematical geometric diagram of a globe/celestial sphere. This serves as an incredible studio artifact and acts as a beautiful visual confirmation of the piece\'s authentic era.
About the Artist:
Ellison Hoover (1888–1955) was a prominent American syndicated cartoonist, painter, and lithographer whose clean-lined, striking style heavily defined the federally funded WPA (Works Progress Administration) and Federal Art Project aesthetic of the 1930s interwar period. His original working production layouts are scarce and highly sought after by fine art collectors.
Condition Disclosure:
Please note there is some vintage water staining/moisture discoloration located on the very bottom edge of the paper completely outside of the main artwork area, as well as a small spot on the upper left side near the top edge. Crucially, this historic staining is confined strictly to the margins and does not touch or affect the central illustration image in any way, which remains bright, crisp, and beautifully detailed. The piece is housed in its original vintage frame with a wonderfully oxidized, age-appropriate backing board and hanging wire.
Shipping & Professional Packaging:
We understand the delicate, investment-grade nature of original WPA-era illustration art. This piece will be packed perfectly and professionally with high-quality, secure materials to ensure it reaches your destination in absolutely exquisite condition. Buy with complete confidence!
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![Original 1930s Ellison Hoover WPA Era Cartoon Layout Art \](parts-images-large/g/~usAAeSwG2NqxJLh/s-l1600/Original-1930s-Ellison-Hoover-WPA-Era-Cartoon-Layo.jpg "Original 1930s Ellison Hoover WPA Era Cartoon Layout Art \")