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Post Artists: Mead Schaeffer’s Pirates, Paratroopers, and Portraits of America
Norman Rockwell’s friend and neighbor painted the men of World War II as well as scenes from across post-war America.
Comments
Schaeffer’s odyssey as an artist here is fascinating. I like the full scope of his art (to which the the video allowed) very much. I had been aware previously of his very realistic depictions of our World War II soldiers in the various circumstances they would be in.
They were particularly important in helping to keep juggernaut LIFE magazine at bay to the extent it could and did during the war. The Post managed to keep a balance of war and non-war oriented covers during these years, as LIFE also did. The former’s art work and approach in full color was something the latter did not have.
Overlooked and forgotten was Collier’s (also a weekly) that seemed to combine both, with color photo action shots of WWII soldiers on their covers I’ve seen in recent years, also alternating between the war and lighter fare.