Harvard Crew Team c. 1907

J.C. Leyendecker created this illustration of the Harvard Crew Team, with what looks like gouache or thinned oil, using these quick, dry strokes. Everything is captured through process; there's a real sense of movement in the scene. The paint is layered, but very thin, creating a beautiful translucent effect. Look how the surface catches the light, and the way the white of the paper shines through the strokes of the brush. The overall palette is muted, but Leyendecker uses these vertical strokes to describe the folds and form of the Harvard supporter's jacket. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric! The jacket becomes an anchor for the composition, juxtaposed against the white of the water. Leyendecker was an illustrator, but he was also a painter. His work reminds me a bit of Fairfield Porter, with its focus on light, colour, and the everyday. Ultimately, this piece shows us that illustration can be just as expressive and impactful as fine art, embracing ambiguity.