Born in New York City in 1907, George E. Hughes grew up in the epicenter of twentieth century art and advertising. Not surprising then that his work would find a home with The Saturday Evening Post, a wildly popular magazine that defined the century of great illustrator art. In all, Hughes would complete 115 Post covers, second only to Norman Rockwell as the magazine’s most prolific artist.
Courtesy Case Auctions
Hughes’ oil-on-board painting for the Aug. 2, 1952, Post titled “Couples at the Beach,” recently sold for $103,700 at Case’s Summer Auction, July 8-9. Presale estimate was $18,000-$22,000.
The Post editorial for the 1952 issue said of the cover illustration: “In the winter, people buy sun lamps to get sun, and in the summer they buy beach umbrellas to keep the sun off. But these are carefree vacation days, let’s not worry about this, or indeed anything else – except maybe whether that creeping baby plans to bite the dog. (We just phoned Artist Hughes to inquire about that, but nobody answered, so probably he’s lying on this beach himself, too modest to move into the picture.) Well, have a wonderful time, folks; build your sand castles and your dream castles; let the cool winds and the hot dogs renew you; and don’t even let annoyment creep in if that boy’s radio prevents your hearing the sweet nothings he whispers to his girl. Now turn the page, before the kids start throwing sand.”
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