There’s so much to love about this bit of vintage cover art. Cropped from a book cover, this drawing by Harold Speakman (1888-1928) is of a dapper gentleman escorting his lady out for the evening. The stylized lines and overall appearance remind me of something that might have been included in The New Yorker magazine but this piece was actually from a book entitled The Rubáiyát of a Bachelor.
I called the vintage romantic drawing Courtin’ as it reminds me of a couple during that romantic period of getting to know each other before they are married. Courtin’ might be a bit of a southern term, but, hey, I’m from the south, so courtin’ it is.
The gentleman is dressed in a long black suit coat with a vest, tie and shirt underneath. His slacks are dark tan and his shoes are black. The lady is wearing a red long skirt with a black, white and beige overskirt. Her top is red and white. The gentleman is wearing a tall hat and carrying a walking stick. The lady is wearing a simple little hat.
The whole drawing could be considered a bit scandalous. After all, it looks as though the bachelor is out on the town with a maid. While it was common for gentlemen to enjoy the favors of ladies in their employ, it was not common for those couples to be seen in public together. Another lady appeared in the original drawing and she was indeed a bit scandalized by the gentleman’s actions. You can find the other Cover Girl under our Beautiful Women category.
Have fun with this one, it looks like it could be a great addition to a new work about romance, dating or dressing one’s best.
This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown.
