Stevan Dohanos

Provenance:
Private Collection, New Jersey.

Literature:
The Saturday Evening Post, Philadelphia, September 30, 1950 (cover illustration).

Lot Essay:
Stevan Dohanos, prominent among a second generation of illustrators, contributed significantly to the development of distinct American visual style in the "afterglow" of America's Golden Age. His work for the Saturday Evening Post, in particular his nostalgic and heartwarming depictions of everyday life, epitomized the post-WWII era. Dohanos' illustrations, generally characterized by soft lighting and strong sentimental appeal, resonated with readers and helped to shape the nation's collective consciousness. Alongside Sarah S. Stilwell Weber, J. C. Leyendecker and Norman Rockwell–all represented in the present sale–Dohanos helped define the visual language of suburban culture in the mid-20th century.

Puppies for Sale, the cover illustration for the September 30, 1950 issue of The Saturday Evening Post, is an exceptional example of Dohanos' ability to distill the essence of childhood innocence and the simple joys of life. The painting's nostalgic mood, its emphasis on simple pleasures and its portrayal of a seemingly wholesome American family aligns with broader cultural trends of the 1950s. By emphasizing traditional values and idealized family life–here, a father, mother and their young son deliberate over "taking home a pal," as the sign entreats–Dohanos' work for The Saturday Evening Post contributed to the construction of a national identity rooted in peace, optimism and, it would appear, canine companionship.