Vintage Harrison Fisher’s The Fudge Party from the American College Girl Series Published in the Ladies Home Journal Ca. 1908

“The Fudge Party” is the last in Harrison Fisher’s  series drawn for and published in the Ladies’ Home Journal in 1908 showing “the American College Girl at her sports and pastimes, in her leisure and at her work.”  See history below.  The illustration offered here is somewhat of a puzzle in that it appears to have been hand drawn and colored–there is no pixelation or evidence of other mechanical reproduction.  However, a close look reveals that it isn’t an identical reproduction of Harrison Fisher’s work as published, therefore, not a print.  Firstly, his signature doesn’t appear on this version (which on published copies appears along the edge of the rug) and, secondly, many of the details don’t match up, including the pattern on the rug and tablecloth, and subtle aspects of the various subjects’ stances and facial expressions.  We’ve included a couple of side-by-side examples in one of the photos by way of illustration.  Is this an amateur copy of Fisher’s work done by an art student?  Did someone attempt to copy the original to use in their own decor?  We’ll never know.  We found the framed illustration with its very old original cardboard backing secured to the frame with nails which had never been removed.  We disassembled it for cleaning, added new board and dust cover.  Glass and hanging wire are original.  The colors are lovely and richer in person than how they appear in the photos.  The background is an ivory color, not stark white like in the photos.  The wooden frame may be oak and is painted black.  The original glass and hanging wire are in place.  See dimensions and condition description below.  

APPROX. DIMENSIONS: Overall:   17.25″ x 13.75″ – Visible print area: 14 1/8″ x 10.75″

CONDITION: Excellent preowned vintage to antique condition.  The frame has a few scuffs, but nothing that detracts.

HISTORY (from online sources): Harrison Fisher (1875 – 1934) is known for the beautiful women he painted, who were overwhelmingly rosy-cheeked, long-limbed, alone, and elegant. Fisher’s work appeared on covers, interior stories, and in advertisements for products marketed to women in The Saturday Evening Post, The Associated Sunday Magazine, Life, Collier’s Weekly, The Ladies’ Home Journal, Puck and Cosmopolitan. The vast and lavishly decorated hats that adorned their heads also became a signature aspect of his design. He joined a legion of other notable illustrators who specialized in the portrayal of glamorous American women, such as Coles Phillips and Charles Dana Gibson. Much like these other illustrators, Fisher was creating a romantic ideal of how women ought to be, but with his “American Girl” and “College Girl” paintings he also wove independence, strength, and intelligence into that romantic narrative. His women acted and reacted as often as they gazed demurely into the middle distance. As a mark of his rise to the top ranks of illustrators who portrayed women, the term “Fisher Girl” was used to describe his paintings in parallel with the “Gibson Girls” of the past and the contemporary “Fadeaway Girls” of Coles Phillips.

SHIPPING: $12.99 flat rate shipping valid only for street addresses within contiguous United States; we cannot deliver to post office boxes.  For shipping to Alaska, Hawaii and elsewhere, please contact us with your location for a custom shipping quote.

A WORD ABOUT VINTAGE: Our inventory consists of vintage or antique items which are more than 20 years old, usually used or pre-owned, unless marked “new old stock.”  As such, there may be signs of wear and age, which we will disclose to the best of our ability.  Nevertheless, we encourage you to carefully read the description and view the photos, especially when purchasing a gift.  All items ship with tracking and insurance, and although we do not accept returns, we will offer a refund in case of breakage or damage during transit, upon receipt of sufficient proof. 

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