For those keen to dive deeply into the Roaring Twenties and Dirty Thirties, the Norman Rockwell Museum is currently showcasing "Jazz Age Illustration," an exhibition that explores how the vibrant illustrations of the era reflected and shaped American culture. The collection includes over 150 pieces that range from drawings and vintage magazines to highball glasses jazzed up with period designs. According to The Boston Globe, the immersive display spans from 1919 to 1942, illustrating how society evolved through Prohibition, the suffrage movement, and even the onset of World War II.
The Delaware Art Museum organized this broad-ranging exhibit to thoroughly demonstrate to not split hairs when it comes to the era's impact on visual entertainment. Featuring the likes of Aaron Douglas and John Held Jr., the showcase illustrates how illustrators captured the era's dynamic spirit, from flappers to the Harlem Renaissance. The presence of notable artists like Rockwell and Erté among contemporary giants adds to the depth of the pieces on display.
Visitors can expect to travel through various themes, with "Modern Women," "Modern Love," and "Modern Style" highlighting the progressive zeitgeist of the Jazz Age. Iconic illustrations for publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, as well as literary works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, help paint a broader picture of the period’s cultural landscape. The exhibit also features a selection of videos that bring to life some of the dance and music synonymous with the era.
The influence of modern art can be discerned across the exhibited works, giving viewers insight into how traditional styles of the early 20th century began to blend with avant-garde sensibilities. To truly represent the diverse artistic output, thematic sections within the exhibit also delve deeply into the context of Black cultural production, such as jazz music, and the Harlem Renaissance, which the museum aims to juxtapose against a landscape of leisure and nightlife reflections in examples such as E. Simms Campbell's "A Night-Club Map of Harlem."
"Jazz Age Illustration" will be on view through April 6, and is supported by sponsors including Dena Hardymon and media partner Berkshire Magazine. Details of the exhibition, as well as credits to private collectors and libraries for loaned pieces, can be found through the museum's press release on its official website. For those eager to experience this slice of history, any time spent at this multifaceted display promises to be well worth the trip to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.
