Arthur E. Becher

Arthur Ernst Becher (July 7, 1877 – November 4, 1960)[1] was an American illustrator.

Arthur E. Becher
Born
Arthur Ernst Becher

(1877-07-29)July 29, 1877
Freiburg, German Empire
DiedNovember 4, 1960(1960-11-04) (aged 83)
Poughkeepsie, New York, US
NationalityAmerican
Known forIllustration

Background

Becher was born in Germany and emigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of eight. He joined Milwaukee Art Student's League and sketched at Jones Island with Louis Mayer and other artists. In 1899, he moved with William Aylward to Wilmington, Delaware. For a couple of years starting in 1902 he studied under illustrator Howard Pyle.

Becher practiced photography during this period, and in 1902 he participated in the first exhibition of the Photo-Secession, a group of pictorialist photographers selected by Alfred Stieglitz. In 1904, he married Freida L. Knappe and moved to Ardsley, New York.[1][2][3] Freida was frequently a model for his book and magazine illustrations.

In 1908, Appleton's Magazine sent Becher to London where he sketched the Elgin Marbles at the British Museum. While in Europe he took the opportunity to study oil painting with the German artist Otto Leopold Strutzel.[1]

Becher's career spanned 40 years, during which he illustrated for many of the leading magazines of the day including Collier's Weekly, McCall's, Ladies' Home Journal, Scribner's Magazine and Pictorial Review. He used drawing media such as carbon or charcoal pencil for many of his illustrations but also worked in large scale oil painting. He sometimes painted landscapes. Many of his works had allegorical themes.[2][3]

In 1959, the common council of Milwaukee purchased some of Becher's work depicting Jones Island for $1,800.[4]

Becher died on November 4, 1960, in Poughkeepsie, New York.

  • Collier's Weekly cover, March 21, 1903.
    Collier's Weekly cover, March 21, 1903.
  • "You were happy!" said the king. "You were disobedient. You were causing grave anxiety and you were happy! The first duty of a prince is to his country." (1916) 15 3/8 x 22 3/8 inches. Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
    "You were happy!" said the king. "You were disobedient. You were causing grave anxiety and you were happy! The first duty of a prince is to his country." (1916) 15 3/8 x 22 3/8 inches. Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
  • Nikky's resistance to search, with the revolver so close, was short-lived (1917); 24 5/8 by 17 5/8 inches Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
    Nikky's resistance to search, with the revolver so close, was short-lived (1917); 24 5/8 by 17 5/8 inches Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
  • Nikky, you are going to take me away, aren't you? (1917) 20 x 13 1/4 inches. Collection of the Delaware Art Museum
    Nikky, you are going to take me away, aren't you? (1917) 20 x 13 1/4 inches. Collection of the Delaware Art Museum

Notes
  1. "Museum of Wisconsin Art - Arthur E. Becher". wisconsinart.org. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. "Sacred Art Pilgrim - Arthur E. Becher". sacredartpilgrim.org. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. Reed, Walt and Roger, The Illustrator in America 1880-1980, page 116. Madison Square Press Inc., 1984.
  4. Stover, Frances (22 November 1959), Jones Island It Was, Milwaukee, WI: The Milwaukee Journal
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