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Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations

 Collection
Identifier: KA-0041-01

Abstract

Carl Erickson (1891-1958), who signed his work "Eric," was a leading fashion illustrator whose drawings appeared in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, among other publications. In 1964, Parsons School of Design hosted a retrospective of Erickson's work. The New School Archives' collection consists of fourteen works, possibly originating from that exhibit.

Dates

  • 1949

Creator

Extent

.1 Cubic Feet (11 folders containing 14 illustrations)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents of Collection

The collection consists of fourteen drawings, which range in size from 12 x 14 inches to 25 x 39 inches. All drawings featuring dates are dated 1949.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.

Use Restrictions

To publish images of material from this collection, permission must be obtained in writing from the New School Archives. Please contact: archivist@newschool.edu.

Biographical note

Born in Joliet, Illinois in 1891, Carl Erickson received a formal arts education at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, known today as the Art Institute of Chicago. Before moving to New York in 1914, Erickson worked on advertising accounts for such clients as the Chicago-based department store, Marshall Field's, and the Lord & Thomas ad agency.

Working from a studio in New York's Flatiron Building, Erickson launched his fashion ilustration career drawing for the trade journal, the Dry Goods Economist. His media included charcoal, pencil, Chinese ink, watercolor, and gouache. Around this time, he began signing his illustrations and portraits, “Eric.”

In 1920, Erickson moved to Paris, where he began illustrating for French Vogue. He lived in Paris with his family for two decades before returning to the United States. Although Erickson is best known for his Vogue illustrations, he also created commercial artwork for a number of corporate clients.

Following Erickson's death in 1958, the Brooklyn Museum and Parsons School of Design hosted retrospectives of his work in 1959 and 1964, respectively. Today, Erickson is recognized as one of the most influential fashion illustrators of the twentieth century.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Drawings in the collection were displayed in the Fashion Design Department of Parsons School of Design prior to their transfer to the New School Archives. Parsons School of Design hosted an exhibition of Erickson's work in 1964 at which numerous drawings were sold. The drawings in the New School Archives' collection may represent unsold drawings from that exhibition.

Related Materials

Records related to the 1964 exhibition of Eric drawings at Parsons School of Design may be found in the New School exhibitions and public programs collection (NS.05.03.01). The Parsons School of Design Alumni Association records (PC.03.02.01) include black and white photographs depicting the exhibition.

Additional fashion illustrations by Eric will be found in the New School Archives in the Juke Goodman fashion illustration collection (KA.0112).

Title
Guide to the Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations
Status
Completed
Author
New School Archives and Special Collections Staff
Date
April 11, 2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin