Flamingo Express- Collier's Magazine

Just thirteen days after Pearl Harbor shattered American innocence, this Lawson Wood cover for Collier's offered readers one last moment of pure whimsy before the nation plunged into total war. Wood's beloved orangutan characters stage a gleeful takeover of an indignant flamingo, complete with makeshift rope reins and a bamboo ladder: a scene of cheerful absurdity that captures the illustrator at his most inventive. Wood (1878-1957) had perfected this brand of anthropomorphic comedy over decades with his 'Gran'pop' orangutan becoming a beloved fixture in British and American publishing. Here, his mastery of animal expression shines: the flamingo's affronted dignity, the rider's determined grip, the baby apes' gleeful chaos below. The vibrant grass-green background, unusual for the era, makes the pink and brown figures pop with remarkable presence. A striking artifact from the precise moment America's world changed forever, this cover bridges Depression-era escapism and wartime resolve. The headline below—'Can Berlin Take It?'—hints at the serious content within, while Wood's monkeys remain blissfully unaware of history unfolding around them. Size: 13.5" x 10.5" Artist: Lawson Wood Condition: Good, * Please note that this listing is for the cover artwork, and not the magazine as a whole. Age-appropriate wear. Paper toning in accordance with the print's age. Marks/stains as per photo. Wear around the edges and minor paper loss might be present in some prints. Please refer to each print's photo to get a better understanding of the condition.