JOHN FALTER (1910-1982)

Fifth Avenue. Preliminary sketch for cover of The Saturday Evening Post, published March 19, 1960. Mixed media, including marker, pen, watercolor, and charcoal on paper. 345x513 mm; 13½x20¼ inches (sheet). Signed "John Falter" in lower left image. Two sheets adhered near center to form larger sheet with vertical fold crease near center. Two additional preliminary studies accompany the lot. The first is the same size as the color sketch, but executed in graphite and black marker. The second is graphite on onionskin and measures 745x1030 mm; 29¼x40½ inches (sheet).The lot is also accompanied by two printed magazine pages that likely served as inspiration for Falter's composition. Falter was a prolific illustrator and is best known for his more than 120 covers produced for The Saturday Evening Post. He received commissions for other leading publications of the day, including Esquire, McCall’s, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Life, and Look. This lot, with its sketches in varying stages of detail, give insight into Falter's working process as he developed compositions over time.