Joseph Christian Leyendecker

Happy Birthday Joseph Christian Leyendecker!! Born in 1874, this illustrator was born in Germany and later came to America. His talent was encouraged early on by his parents and at age 15 he apprenticed to an engraving house, JC Mann & Co, taking art lessons at the Chicago Art Institute. By 19 Leyendecker was creating magazine covers and posters. Although we usually associate Norman Rockwell with the Saturday Evening Post covers, Leyendecker created many as well. An idea of his that still holds today is the New Year’s Baby, which he first designed in 1906. Unfortunately I have not been able to find that year, but did find the one from 1908, pictured below.