June 15, 2011

Show & Tell: Art Frahm's 'The Crossing Guard'


























While wandering through an antique mall over the weekend, I stumbled across this colorful gem of a picture hanging in a simple 8x10 frame. My eyes just about popped out of their sockets because, as my good friend Matt said, "It's sooo up Anthony's alley!" And if you're a regular Pop Circus visitor you know how true a statement that really was. So, of course, I snatched that puppy right up and took it home. But I was curious to know more about the artist. Just WHO was this Frahm person? Was this print out of a book, or was it one in a series? I had to know more. To the internet I went, and what I found was quite interesting...

Art Frahm (1907-1981) was an American painter of campy pin-up girls and advertising. He lived in Chicago and was active from the 1940s to 1960s. Today he's best known for his "ladies in distress" pictures involving beautiful young women whose panties mysteriously flutter to the ground in public situations, often causing them to spill their bag of groceries.

Frahm was commercially successful, and even his falling-panties paintings were later imitated by other pin-up artists. In fact, to this day the falling-panties art has a small cult following as mid-20th century kitsch, or even as fetish art.

In addition to pin-ups, Frahm created a series of humorous hobo-themed calendar illustrations. Another set of paintings celebrated traffic safety, complete with smiling, chubby crossing guards and schoolchildren. (Ding! Ding! Ding! Just like the one I have!) His advertising art included works for Coca-Cola and Coppertone.



























Boy, talk about one extreme to the other, huh? Somehow, Frahm even managed to make an adorable pup look like a "horn dog" in the second picture. That's a bit TOO creepy. I think I'll just stick with the traffic safety series, thank you very much.

10 comments:

  1. I dunno, I think if I were the construction worker in that second picture, I'd be a perfect gentleman and go over there to her and say, "Goodness, ma'am, you seem to be in quite the predicament! Here, let me assist you..." I would then hold her groceries while she regained her modesty. It's the only gentlemanly thing to do, after all.

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  2. I am your newest 'captivated spectator' and thanks for the sunday morning giggle (not only this post but I went back quite a way and loved so many). Great to see such a cool collection of vintage fun (-:

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  3. Well, hello, Linda from OEKE!
    Thank you so much for dropping by, and then ultimately deciding to "join the ranks". It always feels good to hear when someone gets a kick out of what I do around here, so thank you for that, too! Hope you continue enjoying the show... :)

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  4. I love the idealized crossing guard picture! All those sparkling clean kids, safely crossing under the authority of the brave guard. But yeah, the panties one...innocent but also oddly dirty. Like YOU! ;)
    Jules

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  5. Hello Anthony,
    I just recently found i'm almost positive an original frahm hobo painting in my departed grandmothers things. I've tried to reserch frahm hobo paintings and didn't come up with much on my own. I took it to a local collector and he was willing to give a $100 for it but I think I might be getting ripped off. Can you shed a little light for me? Stacie

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    1. Hello, Stacie!
      Wow, if you've REALLY got yourself an original Art Frahm hobo painting (not just a print) you certainly don't want to "give it away" for a mere $100. In fact, I just read somewhere recently that several of Frahm's calendar pin-up girl pieces have sold at auction for amounts in the $20,000 - $25,000 range. And that's for EACH painting!

      So, yeah, I think your instinct was correct about that local collector... $100?? Who does he think he's kidding?! Of course, I must clarify that I'm NO art expert or collector myself. I'd just HATE to see you get taken advantage of, and I happen to know just enough about Frahm's work to be dangerous. ;)

      I hope this helps, and I wish you luck finding buyers willing to pay a fair price.

      Anthony

      P.S. - Also, you might want to continue with the research, just so you're as educated as possible on the piece and actually KNOW what a fair deal would be. :)

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  6. Hi Anthony, I bought a picture of 4 hobo's and a dog at a thrift store today. The signature "frahm" is on the lower left side. I haven't been able to find the exact painting anywhere on the internet.

    Do you have any suggestions for me?

    Thanks for your time,
    Lee

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    1. Hi, Lee!
      Unfortunately, I'm not an expert on these things. However, if I were you, I'd keep searching because if you've got a painting/print with Frahm's signature there's got to be a match documented out there somewhere.

      And remember, you might just have something special there, so don't give up the search out of mere frustration. Your perseverance could possibly pay off.

      Wish I could help you more.
      Good luck!

      Anthony

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  7. Dear Anthony, thank you for the info. on this particular Frahm print, which I have a more faded copy of, and it's from a calendar series of his too. On mine it says the title of "The Kids' Pal", although I like "The Crossing Guard" title even better. Think I'll frame it anyway, as even though faded, it's a keeper, as was Art Frahm himself I'm guessing! Wish there was more about him on the internet itself too, and all the best to you.

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    1. Hello, Mona!
      I'm glad that I was able to provide you with some helpful information. Odd that you found a copy of the same print, but with a completely different title. I don't know what that's about, but somehow "The Kids' Pal" seems fitting, too. And, yes, I would frame it because I think it's worthy of being prominently displayed. Besides, I'm sure that would make Mr. Frahm happy, wherever he may be!

      Thanks for taking the time to comment.
      Cheers!

      Anthony

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