This is an Earl Moran pin-up print that measures 10" x 12" it is from the early 1940's and is in mint condition. The title of this Earl Moran pin-up is "Never Too Young to Yearn" The colors are vivid, and this is a
very nice piece. Earl Steffa Moran was born in Belle Plaine, Iowa, in December 1893. Like many of his contemporaries Mr. Moran studied at the Chicago Art Institute, while at the same time working for a large engraving house which specialized in men's fashion illustrations. Mr. Moran studied in Chicago for two years before moving on to Manhattan where he enrolled at the Art Students League.
In 1931 he moved back to Chicago and opened a small studio, specializing in photography
and illustration. In 1932 he signed an exclusive contract with Brown and Bigelow and produced his first, and perhaps best known, pin-up for the company: "Golden Hours" in 1933. This pin-up proved so popular that it was used to market a variety of products, including a huge 5 pound box of chocolates.
Earl Moran became one of America's best known pin-up artists after Life magazine ran an article on him in 1940, he was also well known as a cover artist , along with Peter
Driben etc., for Robert Harrison, and painted the cover for Harrison's first issue of Beauty Parade. In the early 1940's after Earl Moran divorced his wife he moved to Hollywood and began painting film stars along with his calendar work. One of his most famous models while in Hollywood was the young Marilyn Monroe aka Norma Jean Dougherty, who modeled for Mr. Moran between 1946 and 1950. Earl Moran continued to paint for Brown and Bigelow well into the late fifties before retiring
to paint fine art subjects. He signed with Aaron Brothers Galleries and continued to paint for collectors until 1982 when his eyesight started to fail. Earl Moran died on the 17th January 1984, in Santa Monica.
Although Earl Moran utilized a variety of mediums, e.g. oil on canvas in the 40's and oil on canvas board in the 50's, he most commonly worked in pastels. His work can often be recognized by his heavy use of light and shadow. information on Earl Moran is from
various resources on the Internet |
