Walter M. Baumhofer
| Walter M. Baumhofer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
Walter Martin Baumhofer November 1, 1904 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | September 23, 1987 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Illustration, painting |
Walter Martin Baumhofer (November 1, 1904 - September 23, 1987) was an American illustrator notable for his cover paintings seen on the pulp magazines of Street & Smith and other publishers.
Baumhofer was born and grew up in Brooklyn where his father was a clerk at a local coffee company and then, in 1918, janitor at an apartment building, a situation which enabled the family to live rent free. Graduating from high school in 1922, Baumhofer went on a scholarship to Pratt Institute, where he studied under Dean Cornwell and H. Winfield Scott.[1]
Illustrations
In 1925, he began drawing interior illustrations for Adventure magazine. Scott suggested he submit cover paintings to pulps, and the following year his first pulp cover appeared on Danger Trail. He moved on to do covers for Doc Savage, Dime Mystery, Dime Detective and The Spider. Joining the American Artists agency in 1937, he sold to slick magazines, including The American Weekly, Collier's, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, McCalls, Redbook and Woman's Day.[1][2]
Fine art
In 1945, Baumhofer and his wife Alureda moved to Long Island. During the 1950s, he illustrated for men's adventure magazines, including Argosy, Sports Afield and True. Retiring from freelance magazine illustration, he created portraits, landscapes and Western scenes for fine art galleries.[1]
Gallery
American Legion Monthly Illustration (1921) oil on canvas, 24.25 inch. x 38.75 inch.
References
- 1 2 3 Saunders, David. Pulp Artists: Walter Baumhofer, 2009.
- ↑ Jones, Robert Kenneth. The Shudder Pulps: A History of the Weird Menace Magazines of the 1930s. Wildside Press, 2007, ISBN 978-1-4344-8624-0 (p.22,46).