Dal Holcomb, (Delmora Bistwick Holcomb), 1901-1978, was a prolific twentieth century commercial illustrator. He began his career in the thirties, specializing in sexy pin-up girls, and creating advertising art for several major accounts and countless magazine illustrations and covers.
Holcomb was also an excellent caricaturist, and beginning in the fifties, created lively, colorful gouache silhouette portraits of many current film and television stars, continuing into the late sixties. This is the work I'm presenting here. I couldn't find any information on where these caricatures originally appeared though, but I'm speculating that they were created either for art gallery showings of his work, or for regional newspaper TV suppliment covers. Any information appreciated.
Thanks to John Wendler
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| Clark Gable, Elsie the Cow, 1940's advertising art |
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| Edward G. Robinson |
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| William Bendix |
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| Donald O'Connor |
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| Loretta Young |
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| Tony Curtis |
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| Ceasar Romero |
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| Fred Astaire |
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| Eve Arden |
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| Jack Palance |
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| Judy Garland |
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| Shirley Booth |
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Dana Andrews
Miyoshi Umeki
Jack Webb |
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| Chuck Conners |
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| Jim Backus |
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| Ed Sullivan |
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| Jack Paar |
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| Art Linkletter |
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| Mitch Miller |
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| Liberace |
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| Steve Allen |
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| Milton Berle |
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| Danny Kaye |
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| Imogene Coca |
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| George Gobel |
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Lucille Ball
Mort Sahl |
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| Joey Bishop |
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Flip Wilson
self-portrait |
What a treat....where'd you come by these?
ReplyDeleteAll of these were new to me, although I was somewhat familiar with his advertising and magazine work. I saw his Milton Berle while googling Berle, and one led to the other.
ReplyDeleteDrew, Thank you so much for all these and your dedication to this blog. This is glorious stuff!
ReplyDeleteWow. New to me too. Can't believe I've never heard of him. Thanks for posting these. There's no line work and painting is too opaque for watercolor. But it might be. Got a guess?
ReplyDeleteIn gouache yet!? I never enjoyed working in gouache, but these images make me rethink that.
ReplyDeleteGouache Mike!
ReplyDeleteSuper-inspirational, thanks for posting these.
ReplyDeleteThose are great.
ReplyDeleteHad never heard of the guy! These are indeed wonderful!
ReplyDeletethanks for exposing me to the Holcomb caricatures ,excellent. Jack Palance reminds me of Jethro" from the Beverly Hillbilly's
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention how much I hate Milton Berle, but really liked the portrait.
ReplyDelete