NOSTALGIA
Curtis Licensing Offers a Treasure-trove of Nostalgic Art
If 2020 has taught us anything is that life can be challenging at times, and that things can change in an instant. As we find ourselves yearning for an easier, simpler time, it is only natural to reach for the things that bring us comfort…an old favorite t-shirt, the warmth and flavor of a home cooked meal we used to love as kids. It is this longing for the things that make us feel safe and that remind us of a happier, more uncomplicated time that is fueling a renewed interest in nostalgic licensing properties. Nobody understands the power of nostalgia like Curtis Licensing. As the licensing division for America’s oldest magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, Curtis has an arsenal of nearly 200 years of nostalgic content including an archive of over ten thousand illustrations. In fact, the wholesome, often humorous images that graced the covers and pages of the magazine were the cornerstone for the publication’s
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success in the first place. Over the years, artists like John Falter, Stevan Dohanos, J.C. Leyendecker and George Hughes created portrayals of daily American life that captured the public’s heart and mind for decades to come. However, no artist was better at idealizing daily family life and what meant to grow up in America than Norman Rockwell. Rockwell created over 300 covers for the Saturday Evening Post and more than 100 inside illustrations. These delightful images keenly capture the innocence, dignity, pride and also often the humor of life in decades past. Since they were first painted and through the work of Curtis Licensing, these images have been featured on thousands of licensed products and countless promotional campaigns, both in the United States and internationally. Product categories include seasonal and every day home décor, stationery and gifts, games and hobbies, publishing, educational uses and apparel. “Our images are classic and they evoke feelings that can’t be easily recreated by modern artwork”, said Cris Piquinela, Director of Licens-
ing and Business Development at Curtis Licensing. “People look at our images and they can’t help but smile. It is interesting because even if the scene displayed does not match the customer’s actual past experience, it usually still stirs an emotion that translates even to our international customers…that longing and appreciation for a simpler, safer time”. A perfect example of an iconic nostalgic image according to Piquinela is Norman Rockwell’s famous “Freedom From Want”, which he painted in 1943. “While the current day reality of a Thanksgiving family dinner may look very different from Rockwell’s portrayal, the idea of a happy, loving family gathered to celebrate together around a lovingly prepared meal is what most of us want for ourselves, so it is very relatable still today. That is why that image is so popular when it comes to licensing.” With a range that covers wide variety of themes including holiday, patriotic, farm, glamour, nautical and many others, Curtis Licensing has images to cover everyone’s needs. You can see a sampling of their vast collection at www.curtislicensing.com
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