Flapper with Cigarette and Lounging Figure
Drawing / Illustration on paper • Signed lower right with initials W.E.H. 29, likely an American or British illustrator working in the Jazz Age style
Style & Movement
Art Deco / Jazz Age Illustration / 1920s Caricature
Medium & Technique
Ink and wash on cream-colored paper, featuring fine-line contour drawing, stippling, and solid ink blocking
Creation Period
Dated 1929
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 10 x 8 inches (sight size), vertical rectangular format with an interior circular vignette
Subject Description
A satirical or stylized illustration of a 1920s flapper standing while smoking a cigarette in a holder, wearing a revealing gown with a large bow and stockings. In the background, a whimsical stylized chair or sofa is positioned with another set of legs draped over it, enclosed within a circular framing line.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. Paper shows even aging and toning appropriate to age, ink remains dark and crisp, matted and framed under glass.
Estimated Market Value
$300 - $600
Auction Estimate
$200 - $400
Provenance History
Acquired from a private collection; likely originating from an estate sale, portfolio, or publication of 1920s illustrations.
Art Historical Significance
Captures the bold, liberated social attitudes of women during the late 1920s, reflecting the flapper archetype popular in periodicals and pulp illustration of the Jazz Age.
Notable Features
Clear date '29' and artist initials 'W.E.H.' inscribed near the lower right; excellent use of negative space and stippling technique typical of period magazine illustrations.
Condition Issues
Minor acidification and toning of the paper support due to age; potential acid burn from historical matting materials.
Conservation Recommendations
Preserve in current archivally stable matting away from direct sunlight; ensure UV-filtering glass is used to prevent further paper degradation.