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In honour of his birthday, today’s art appreciation is Charles Dana Gibson (14 Sept 1867 - 23 Dec 1944).
Gibson was an American illustrator best known for his drawings of women. The “Gibson Girl” was a popular figure, meant to represent the beautiful and independent American woman at the turn of the twentieth century. Closer glance reveals the Gibson Girl to be slightly more sinister, often tormenting or studying the tiny figure of a man. Amusingly (or terrifyingly, depending on how you look at it), the Gibson Girls are generally held to have been based on Gibson’s wife, Irene Langhorne, and her sister, Nancy Astor. Apparently, he must have found them somewhat intimidating. Regardless, his drawings are rather iconic of an era.
Additionally, in 1918, Gibson became the editor (and, eventually, the owner) of Life magazine.
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