The Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive: early work and later sketches

Bernard Krigstein is one of the most respected illustrators ever to work in comic books, due in large part to his classic work with EC Comics in the 1950s.  But Krigstein had a career as a commercial artist as well, before and after his time in comics, and very little of those works have been seen since their original printing.  The Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive is a collection of some of these rare pieces, many scanned directly from tear sheets in the legendary artist's personal files.  (See the rest of the collection HERE)

Up to this point, the Archive has collected several pieces from Krigstein's illustration work from 1957-58, immediately after his retirement from comics.  But these three pieces offer a view into two very different eras of Krigstein's career:  his pre-comics illustration career, and sketches from later in his life as a teacher at the High School of Art and Design in New York City.


This first piece is from the very beginning of Krigstein's career as a professional artist as the staff illustrator for Air Youth Magazine in 1942.  It is important to remember that, prior to working in illustration and comics, Krigstein was an aspiring fine artist who considered these commercial art forms to be beneath him.  It was only when he was unable to find a patron to support his painting career that he grudgingly sought work in the illustration field to help pay the bills.  Krigstein quickly showed an ability to switch gears from his Cezanne-inspired still lifes and self portraits to dramatic illustration work, as this piece shows.  He immediately exhibited a full range of technical skill as an illustrator, even though this piece is likely among his earliest attempts at using these illustrative techniques with ink.  Krigstein's instinctual eye for a dynamic composition is also on display.  (Note:  the blank spot in the composition would have been used for accompanying text when printed.  Also, that is not Krigstein's original signature.  His wife, Natalie, signed many pieces after his death.)

These next pieces are from his time as an instructor at the High School of Art and Design in New York City, a position he accepted in 1962 and held for two decades.  By this point in his life, you can tell he is just enjoying himself, letting his brush skate around the paper without any pencil underdrawing. 

The first is titled "3 Students," dated 1976.  The second is undated.

Check out the rest of the Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive HERE.  If you have any further examples of Krigstein's work that you would like to submit to the Archive (high res scans ideally), contact me at Kojakart@gmail.com.  Thank You.

~kojak

the Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive: 1957 commercial work

part five of HEAD MEDICINE'S Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive, a collection of over 50 rare illustrations from 1957-58, many never reprinted since their original publication, and scanned directly from tear sheets in the legendary artists' own collection.   for more info on Krigstein and to view the rest of the Archive, click HERE

here are three examples of Krigstein's commercial art work from 1957.

the first piece accompanied a New York Times article, dated September 29th, 1957.

the second is an ad for Purofied pillows

and the third is an illustration of an orchestra for an unknown client.  even when presented with a piece that required detailed rendering of dozens of players, Krigstein went above and beyond the call of duty,  rendering each band member with a unique physical personality in a loose, impressionistic drawing style.

 details:

The Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive: "Rusty's Space Ship" 1957

part four of HEAD MEDICINE'S Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive, a collection of over 50 rare illustrations from 1957-58, many never reprinted since their original publication, and scanned directly from tear sheets in the legendary artists' own collection.   for more info on Krigstein and to view the rest of the Archive, click HERE

These illustrations are from "Rusty's Space Ship," a whimsical children's book published by Doubleday in 1957.  Krigstein kept few stylistic rules with these pieces, the lines are scratched out in a variety of ways with a variety of tools, seemingly whatever was nearby or could give him the desired effect.  bold blacks, scratchy pen, modernist brushwork, zip-a-tone, ink splatters, and, in the last piece, odd circular pen scribbles.  whatever worked.

The Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive: "St. Helena and the True Cross" 1958

part three of HEAD MEDICINE'S Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive, a collection of over 50 rare illustrations from 1957-58, many never reprinted since their original publication, and scanned directly from tear sheets in the legendary artists' own collection. for more info on Krigstein and to view part one of the Archive, click  HERE  and to view part two, click HERE

i believe that these illustrations are from "St. Helena and the True Cross, " published by Vision books in 1958, but i cannot be completely certain.  outside verification would be greatly appreciated.


krigstein's line work here is the very definition of "liquid"... at times it's almost as if he is pouring the ink on these pages.  these examples are further proof that krigstein never adhered to any particular style, but constantly pushed out his creative boundaries to their furthest limits.

The Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive: "Border Hawk: August Bondi" 1958

part two of HEAD MEDICINE'S Bernard Krigstein Illustration Archive, a collection of over 50 rare illustrations from 1957-58, many never reprinted since their original publication, and scanned directly from tear sheets in the legendary artists' own collection.   for more info on Krigstein and to view part one of the Archive, click HERE

(NOTE: i believe that these illustrations are from the children's book "Border Hawk: August Bondi" published by covenant books in 1958, tho i cannot be certain.  it is possible that at least some of them may be from a different unknown source.  if anyone has any further information on these illustrations, HEAD MEDICINE would greatly appreciate it to make the Archive as accurate as is possible.)