If you were an illustrator in the mid-century, you were likely in high demand. Mid-century household magazines generally published at least 3 short stories per issue and each story had at least one full color illustration. Besides stories, illustrators were also in demand for advertising. Attractive couples in love were often the subjects for mid-century illustrations. Drawing passion was big business and no one did it better than the following talented artists. Here are 10 illustrations from the 1950’s showing couples in a passionate moment from Jon Whitcomb, Walter Skor, Lynn Buckham, Coby Whitmore, Harry Bennett, Al Buell, John D MacDonald, Thornton Utz, and Tom Lovell.
1951
Illustration by Jon Whitcomb for Community Silverplate ad from the May 1951 edition of Glamour magazine.
1951
Jane Russell and Robert Mitchem movie poster for 1951 Howard Hughes movie titled “His Kind of Woman” from the August 1951 edition of McCall’s magazine. Illustrator Unknown.
1952
Illustration by Walter Skor for Short story by Natalie Shipman titled Experiment with Love. From the September 1952 edition of McCalls magazine.
1955
Illustration by Lynn Buckham for short story titled Legal and Tender By Jack Finney. Appeared in the February 1955 edition of Good Housekeeping.
1955
This Coby Whitmore illustration appeared in the February 1955 edition of Good Housekeeping magazine. It accompanied a short story titled A Day at a Time written by Garson Kanin.
1955
Harry Bennett illustration for short story titled Ingrid, his Wife by Florence Christian. From the May 1955 edition of Family Circle Magazine.
1959
Illustration by Al Buell for short story mystery written by John D MacDonald titled Crossroads. From the June 1959 issue of Cosmopolitan.
1959
Illustration by Tom Lovell for the short story titled “Good, Better, Worse” by Lawrence Williams. Illustration appeared in the September 1959 edition of Good Housekeeping magazine.
1959
Illustration by Thornton Utz. It accompanied a 5 page short story by Robert A Knowlton titled “On the Make”. From Cosmo March 1959.
1959
Illustration by Lynn Buckham for short story titled, “The Helpless Helpmeet” by Mary Thayer Muller from the July 1959 edition of Good Housekeeping magazine.
Mid-Century Page 
Love ‘holding hat’ one 💜 Your compilation is so appreciated. Thank you !
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Thank you so much for your kind words. Those mid-century illustrators were so good.
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