Description

A very interesting original Art Deco pen and ink drawing by American artist and magazine illustrator Charles Tudor (1903-1970). This is the original drawing for an illustration that was almost certainly published in Parade Magazine in 1932, Tudor was on the magazine staff in 1931 and 1932 and did a number of covers and interior illustrations for this publication. The image depicts a group of men playing a very early version of the pinball machine, the man in the derby hat is about to pull on the ball plunger and is pointing to his intended target. The machine is the "Variety", a late table bagatelle/early pinball device that was manufactured in Chicago by the Atlas Indicator Works in the early 1930s (see last photo). The drawing sheet measures 13 × 9 inches, it is signed and dated in the lower right and there is some highlighting done in orange and white. Paper has a bit of age toning, a few pinholes and some well flattened creases and dog ear in the lower right corner, otherwise it is in excellent condition. Charles Tudor (1903-1970) began his career as an artist for the Cleveland Press after graduating from the Cleveland Art School in 1923. In the early 1930s he was an illustrator for Cleveland's Parade Magazine and the went on to a government art project during the Great Depression. He later went on to publishing fame as Art Director of Life Magazine. His full biography makes an interesting read, it can be found at: http://adcglobal.org/hall-of-fame/charles-tudor/