Everett Shinn (American, 1876–1953) "Rip Van Winkle" Cover Design

Note

Everett Shinn was the youngest member of the Ashcan School, and displayed an early aptitude for drawing, enrolling at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in the fall of 1893 on the advice of his previous supervisors. While in Philadelphia, the artist secured an illustrator's position at the Philadelphia Press, and befriended George Luks (with whom he shared an apartment). Together, they attended Robert Henri's art conferences, and met William Glackens and John Sloan: all would end up again in New York City at the New York Herald. Shinn decided to illustrate Washington Irving’s famous tale after a “curious affair” which he describes in detail in the forward of the 1939 edition which bore his illustrations. He described how he found an old copy of the story in a cottage which he had rented in the Catskills. Wandering around the area he became convinced he has found the location of the tale and fell into a dream himself. In which he followed the titular character into a cabin and through the woods during a rainstorm. Later he was told that it hasn’t rained in weeks, however still feeling his wet clothes he remarked that he believes the story to be entirely true and "went home and started work on my illustrations". The story of Rip Van Wrinkle remained of Shinn’s favorite works throughout his life.

A copy of the book will be offered alongside the Illustration.

Provenance

Chapellier Galleries, New York, New York.

Acquired from the above.

Private Collection, New Jersery.

Private Estate, New Jersey.