Advertising art by Bolles, 1915 |
Even more revealing is Bolles' largely unknown career as a commercial illustrator outside of the magazine industry. His early work included pen and ink illustration but he soon specialized in color, producing hundreds of illustrations for campaigns ranging from cigarettes to ocean liners. He even did a few film star portraits for the more mainstream movie mags and in the late 1920s, as well as create a series of posters for movie studios. Clearly, Bolles was an artist comfortable with a variety of media who could adapt (or mask) his style depending on the needs of the client. He was sought out by advertisers not only because of ability at drafting pretty girls during a period when every able illustrator was perfecting their own, but also because of his more general skills in composition and as a draftsman.
Portrait of Bolles Great-granddaughter, Joanna, circa 1960 |
Tappan Zee river, circa unknown |
Given this, it's only fair that the Bolles girl has the last say on this matter.
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