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American Kitsch is an aesthetic style that was prevalent in the United States in magazine covers, movie posters, billboards, advertisements, and propaganda from the 1920s to the 1960s.
The most famous illustrator of this style is Norman Rockwell; he created magazine covers for the The Saturday Evening Post for nearly five decades. His illustrations captured the essence of American life, often depicting heartwarming scenes of everyday moments in America. Frances Tipton Hunter was another illustrator who used a style similar to Norman Rockwell. She worked for the The Saturday Evening Post and many other magazines between the 1920s and 1950s.
Visuals[]
The aesthetic is characterized by its cartoonish yet realistic depictions of people, often with a touch of exaggeration and humor. 50s Suburbia is the most common aesthetic depicted. One of the distinguishing features of this style is its use of vivid and bright colors, which are heavily influenced by the vibrant fashion trends of the 1950s.
Pin-up "pulp art" is a style similar to American Kitsch that was used for the covers of "pulp magazines". The main difference between them is the subject of the art. Pulp art was much more explicit, primarily featuring a combination of horror, violence, and sexual content.
Another style related to American Kitsch is Heroic Realism, which focuses on propaganda posters. World War 2 occurred during the time of American Kitsch, so there were many propaganda posters that used the style.
History[]
This style was at its peak in the 1950s and declined after Norman Rockwell's last painting for the The Saturday Evening Post in 1963.
Although the aesthetic has declined, there are some examples of it being revived for use in the modern era. For example, the artist Yung Gravy has adopted this style for his album covers.
Gallery[]
