Singh, Jeff :: Illustration Art and Painted art

Nell Brinkley Illustration

Artist: Nell Brinkley (All)

7 Comments - 2,010 Views - 12 Likes

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Artwork Details

Title:	Nell Brinkley Illustration
Artist:	Nell Brinkley (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Illustration
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	2,010
Likes on CAF:	12 13
Favorited on CAF:	3
Comments:	7
Added to Site:	3/17/2021
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Here is someone you should know about if you don't already. She was just inducted into the Eisner Comic Artist Hall of Fame in 2020, about 100 years late. Nell was one of the earliest women cartoonists to work for a large newspaper. Her style and aesthetic became so well known that like the Gibson girls of the era before, they had the coined the term Brinkley Girls for here work. I've come across her name and work in the past but it was writing an article for CFA-APA on flapper girls and artists that I dove down the Brinkley rabbit hole. I fell in love with her work and when I went looking for some to perhaps own, they are not to be found. Heritage has 4 sales in their 20 years of results and the auction house I got them from can't recall having many of her pieces in the past. I was very happy to add two of these to my collection. Her line work is so fine that from a distance, it looks very faded but the detail is alive with a playful and feminine line. I have included detailed scans in the additional images to give you perhaps a better idea of the works.

Here is a small part of the article I wrote with a fun anecdote.

Nell Brinkley created her own, more independent and free loving spirited girls that were popularly known as the Brinkley girls and were a precursor to the flappers. She illustrated for Hearst Newspapers. Brinkley would have been among the first to do female cartoon characters and that is what the newspapers wanted from her talents. It is reported that an editor had told her that she was to do comics, she replied. "But that's not what I came here to do," the editor replied "But that's what we want you to do, little girl, and you must do what we want." To which Nell replied, "But I won't make comics...I've got a good daddy back in Denver and I'll go back there to him." Nell won and the rest is history as she went on to become a renowned illustrative cartoonist. I don’t have any art by Brinkley in my collection but having written this piece, I think that will soon change.

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About the Owner

	Jeff Singh ( 7 ) Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	November 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Website:	http://www.art4comics.com
Country:	CANADA
On CAF:	Premium Member Q&A Jeff's Classifieds Jeff's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF Read More About JeffSingh

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Comments on this Artwork

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Ben H
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 3/18/2021

These are gorgeous! Lovely, delicate line work. I had not been aware of the artist, but will definitely try to learn more about her now!

Rob Stolzer
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 3/18/2021

Congrats times two! That center panel is amazing!

Brett B
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 3/18/2021

Seeing these in person just backs up that old statement that scans just don't do these justice. Simply beautiful work!

frank x townsondecker
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 3/18/2021

Incredible!

Thomas Vanderstappen
Member Since 2005

Posted on 12/20/2021

Stellar piece. Congrats.

Timothy Finney
Member Since 2006

Posted on 1/20/2022

A Brinkley Girl illustration! Wow! I totally forgot that you had acquired this until I saw it again in one of this year's "Best of" lists. It immedieately got my vote, and my admiration for your collection grew even more.

Comics Superworld
Member Since 2007

Posted on 12/20/2024

This piece is off the planet! Exquisitely beautiful and intricate. Haven't heard of her, but will have my eyes open now.

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