James montgomery flagg biography of michael
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The Story Behind One of the Most Iconic Images in American History
This recruiting poster featuring Uncle Sam pointing his finger at the viewer is one of the most iconic images in American history. While we are accustomed to this depiction of Uncle Sam today, he did not always look this way.
In the late 1860s and 1870s, a political cartoonist named Thomas Nast is credited with beginning to popularize the image of Uncle Sam. According to history.com, "Nast continued to evolve the image, eventually giving Sam the white beard and stars-and-stripes kostym that are associated with the character today."
Nast's image of Uncle Sam on the cover of the November 24, 1876 edition of Harper's Weekly. (Photo: sonofthesouth.net)
James Montgomery Flagg was later tasked with reinterpreting the image of Uncle Sam. His modig new look first appeared on the cover of the July 6, 1916, issue of Leslie's Weekly with the title, "What Are You Doing For P
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James Montgomery Flagg
American artist (1877–1960)
James Montgomery Flagg | |
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Flagg in 1915, photographed by Arnold Genthe | |
| Born | (1877-06-18)June 18, 1877 Pelham, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 27, 1960(1960-05-27) (aged 82) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Artist and illustrator |
James Montgomery Flagg (June 18, 1877 – May 27, 1960) was an American artist, comics artist, and illustrator. He worked in media ranging from fine art painting to cartooning, but is best remembered for his political posters, particularly his 1917 poster of Uncle Sam created for United States Army recruitment during World War I.[1]
Life and career
[edit]Flagg was born on June 18, 1877, in Pelham, New York.[1] He was enthusiastic about drawing from a ung age, and had illustrations accepted by national magazines by the age of 12. By 14, he was a contributing artist for Life magazine, and the following year was on the staff of another magazine, Judge