Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations
- Collection Overview
- Biographical note
- Scope and Contents of Collection
- Administrative Information
- Related Materials
- Keywords for Searching Related Subjects
- Other Finding Aids note
- Collection Inventory

Guide to the Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations, 1949
Collection Overview
- Repository
-
Kellen Design Archives
- Collection Identifier
-
KA.0041
- Creator
-
Erickson, Carl
- Title
-
Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations
- Extent
-
1 linear ft : 11 folders (14 illustrations)
- Summary
-
Carl Erickson (1891-1958), who signed his work "Eric," was a leading fashion illustrator whose drawings appeared in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, among other publications. In 1964, Parsons School of Design hosted a retrospective of Erickson's work. The New School Archives' collection consists of fourteen works, possibly originating from that exhibit.
Preferred Citation note
[Identification of item], [date (if known)], Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations, KA.0041, box __, folder __, New School Archives, The New School, New York, New York.
Biographical note
Born in Joliet, Illinois in 1891, Carl Erickson received a formal arts education at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, known today as the Art Institute of Chicago. Before moving to New York in 1914, Erickson worked on advertising accounts for such clients as the Chicago-based department store, Marshall Field's, and the Lord & Thomas ad agency.
Working from a studio in New York's Flatiron Building, Erickson launched his fashion ilustration career drawing for the trade journal, the Dry Goods Economist. His media included charcoal, pencil, Chinese ink, watercolor, and gouache. Around this time, he began signing his illustrations and portraits, “Eric.”
In 1920, Erickson moved to Paris, where he began illustrating for French Vogue. He lived in Paris with his family for two decades before returning to the United States. Although Erickson is best known for his Vogue illustrations, he also created commercial artwork for a number of corporate clients.
Following Erickson's death in 1958, the Brooklyn Museum and Parsons School of Design hosted retrospectives of his work in 1959 and 1964, respectively. Today, Erickson is recognized as one of the most influential fashion illustrators of the twentieth century.
Scope and Contents of Collection
The collection consists of fourteen drawings, which range in size from 12 x 14 inches to 25 x 39 inches. All drawings featuring dates are dated 1949.
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Kellen Design Archives - April 11, 2012
lobby level
New York, NY, 10011
212.229.5942
archivist@newschool.edu
Preferred Citation note
[Identification of item], [date (if known)], Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations, KA.0041, box __, folder __, New School Archives, The New School, New York, New York.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.
Use Restrictions
To publish images of material from this collection, permission must be obtained in writing from the New School Archives. Please contact: archivist@newschool.edu.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Drawings in the collection were displayed in the Fashion Design Department of Parsons School of Design prior to their transfer to the New School Archives. Parsons School of Design hosted an exhibition of Erickson's work in 1964 at which numerous drawings were sold. The drawings in the New School Archives' collection may represent unsold drawings from that exhibition.
Related Materials
Records related to the 1964 exhibition of Eric drawings at Parsons School of Design may be found in the Exhibitions and public programs collection (NS.05.03.01). The Parsons School of Design Alumni Association records (PC.03.02.01) include black and white photographs depicting the exhibition.
Additional fashion illustrations by Eric will be found in the New School Archives in the Juke Goodman fashion illustration collection (KA.0112).
Keywords for Searching Related Subjects
Occupation(s)
- Fashion illustrators.
Subject(s)
- Fashion drawing.
- Fashion illustration.
- Women's clothing -- United States -- 20th century -- Pictorial works.
Other Finding Aids note
For selected item-level description and images from the Carl Erickson (Eric) fashion illustrations, see The New School Archives Digital Collections at http://digitalarchives.library.newschool.edu/index.php/Detail/collections/KA0041.
Collection Inventory
Illustrations |
C 3 | 1-4, 7 | ||
C 5 | 2-3 | |||
k_15 | 8 | |||
k_OSxxx-1 | 8-10 |
Collection Guide Last Updated: 02/28/2017
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