Arthur Sarnoff (1912-2000)

An illustrator for many american magazines, Arthur Sarnoff was known for illustration and paintings, which were whimsical and attention getting because of their reflection of many aspects of American culture-product consumption, domestic life, sports, celebrities, sex, crime and musical entertainment.

Sarnoff was born in Brooklyn and studied at the Industrial School and the Grand Central Art School in New York City.

Among his teachers were John Clymer and Andrew Wyeth.

He was a member of the Society of Illustrators and exhibited widely including the National Academy of Design.

Much of his illustration work beginning in the 1930s was for weekly and monthly magazines and included McCall's, American Weekly, Collier's, Woman's Home Companion, Redbook, American Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Good Housekeeping.

His ad images were used to promote Karo Syrup (Karo Kid is a 40s icon), Dextrose (ditto the Sugar Blonde), Lucky Strike cigarettes, Coors beer, Camay soup, and over-the-counter much advertised medications such as Sal Hepatica, Listerine, Vick's Vapo Rub, Meds and Ipana.

He also did portraits of President and Mrs Kennedy.

Two subjects continue to keep him famous: popular and tasteful pin-up girl calendars and the pool playing (and card playing and golfing) dogs, of which The Hustler became one of the best-selling prints of the 1950s.

He usually signed his art by using his full name or "Sarnoff", or just "AS".

In honor of Sarnoff's 70th birthday in 2001, his two daughters, Susan and Elizabeth, set up the Arthur Sarnoff Alumni Financial Aid Fund at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School in Central Park, New York City.

A children's school attended by Sarnoff's daughters, the school remained of special interest to Arthur Sarnoff and his family. | Sources: americanartarchives

Illustratore per numerose riviste americani, Arthur Sarnoff (1912-2000) era noto per le sue illustrazioni ed i suoi dipinti, originali ed accattivanti, che riflettevano molti aspetti della cultura americana: consumo di prodotti, vita domestica, sport, celebrità, sesso, criminalità ed intrattenimento musicale.

Sarnoff nacque a Brooklyn e studiò alla Industrial School ed alla Grand Central Art School di New York City.

Tra i suoi insegnanti c'erano John Clymer e Andrew Wyeth.

Fu membro della Society of Illustrators ed espose ampiamente, inclusa la National Academy of Design.

Gran parte del suo lavoro di illustrazione a partire dagli anni '30 fu per riviste settimanali e mensili, che includeva McCall's, American Weekly, Collier's, Woman's Home Companion, Redbook, American Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Esquire e Good Housekeeping.

Realizzò anche ritratti del presidente e della signora Kennedy.

Due soggetti continuano a renderlo famoso: i calendari pin-up popolari e di buon gusto ed i cani che giocano a biliardo (e a carte e a golf), di cui The Hustler è diventata una delle stampe più vendute degli anni '50.

Di solito firmava la sua arte usando il suo nome completo o "Sarnoff", o semplicemente "AS".

In onore del 70° compleanno di Sarnoff nel 2001, le sue due figlie, Susan ed Elizabeth, hanno istituito l'Arthur Sarnoff Alumni Financial Aid Fund presso l'Ethical Culture Fieldston School di Central Park, New York City.