Arrow Shirt Collar Advertisement 1907

J.C. Leyendecker made this advertisement for Arrow shirts, using oil paint, and what strikes me is how he seemed to be having so much fun doing it. The way Leyendecker lays down these confident strokes, especially in the dapper fellow to the left, reminds me a bit of John Singer Sargent. Notice how the brushstrokes dance and define form, creating a lively surface that feels so effortless and breezy. It’s like he's saying, "Here's how it's done." Then, there's that delicious palette of warm browns and creams, punctuated by pops of red, so good you could eat it with a spoon. The way he captures the textures of the suits, from the crisp collars to the soft wool, is just amazing. And look at the detail in the face of the man in the middle. It's almost as if he's challenging you to look away. I wonder, who are these men?