Page:Some examples of the work of American designers.djvu/125

 ROBERT J. WILDHACK

Just as no better example of Mr. Wild- hack's humorous work could be found than the Robinson Crusoe sketch on this page, so no better instance of his decorative style could be discovered than our exhibit. The sketch is good fun. R. Crusoe, in a costume somewhat Hawaiian, has dropped his parasol at the sight of Man Friday's dainty footprint and stands sentimentally transfixed, while Mr. Friday "hides" behind a date palm. Note the date, and observe the masterly drawing of the leaves on the palm tree. Simply beautiful and beautifully simple. Could the artist leave off a stroke? Could he leave off a leaf? Then the horizon "line" and the carefully modeled beach! Words fail us before this masterpiece, one of a series of newspaper advertisements of Rogers, Peet & Co. which ran for five years in the New York dailies.

"The Garden of My Dreams," the commuter's idea of Heaven (a cover for "Life)," is in quite another manner. One would not think the two done by the same hand. The cover is delicately decorative. A third manner is his poster style. In this his drawing is in strong line and the color more elemental than in his present use of it. A number of years ago, when Harper's and Scribner's magazines were competing in the production of small monthly posters, R. J. W. contribvited excellent designs to both publications.

Mr. Wildhack was born in Illinois but has lived in New York City for a long time. He is a pupil of the well-known American painter, Robert Henri.