Assembly and review of a laser-cut vintage image puzzle designed by Justin Madden of Par Puzzles and fabricated by Jasen Robillard of Stumpcraft (about 6200 words; 22 photos)
First of all, I remember this picture from the Saturday Evening Post, though I wasn't alive in 1944 and must have seen it in some retrospective presentation. I mistakenly though it was by Rockwell and appreciate learning from you about the actual artist, Dohanos. In my mind, I can now honour the correct artist.
Like you, I fondly remember shopping for penny candy. I especially liked those strips of paper with little blobs of coloured sugar stuck onto them. It always amazed me that that was one kind of candy that always provided quite a few pieces for one cent (later, two cents). I was also fond of "watermelon slices," which looked like flattened gum drops.
Today's puzzle is beautiful, though costly. I probably wouldn't spend $179 for one of them, though I do spend that much at one go on other hobby interests. I can see why you do spend quite a bit on your puzzles—you seem to get so much joy out of them—and thank you for sharing that joy with us. The puzzle makers you've written about today likely are also true lovers of their creations.
Thanks, Greg. I was mixed up about the artist too and thought it was Norman Rockwell, even when I bought the puzzle.
I resisted the temptation to include an extended digression about the Saturday Evening Post in my review/essay because it was already so long. I found out that the magazine hired a new editor in 1916 named George Horace Lorimer. He changed the magazine's style of content, and hired Norman Rockwell to be its art director and establish this as its house style for cover illustrations. It was his changes, along with Rockwell’s development of a huge fan base for his art, that led to the magazine’s huge success during that time.
I still can’t see a Norman Rockwell painting, or any lookalike painting like this one, without thinking of the magazine. I don’t really know what their articles were like. My parents didn’t subscribe to it - we only got Life and TV Guide as far as I recall. But I would check the magazine rack at the drugstore just to see the cover of the new Saturday Evening Post.
Hey Bill- thanks for this great review and blog post (*as always). One slight correction I've been meaning to get to when I first read your post: we have B Corp goals and aspirations but have yet to be certified! Don't want to get either of us into trouble with the B Corp police (fortunately, I don't think they exist yet).
Thanks, Jasen. I am correcting that paragraph to say that you are seeking B Corp certification rather than that you are already certified. When you do get your certification please let me know and I will restore it to the previous wording.
First of all, I remember this picture from the Saturday Evening Post, though I wasn't alive in 1944 and must have seen it in some retrospective presentation. I mistakenly though it was by Rockwell and appreciate learning from you about the actual artist, Dohanos. In my mind, I can now honour the correct artist.
Like you, I fondly remember shopping for penny candy. I especially liked those strips of paper with little blobs of coloured sugar stuck onto them. It always amazed me that that was one kind of candy that always provided quite a few pieces for one cent (later, two cents). I was also fond of "watermelon slices," which looked like flattened gum drops.
Today's puzzle is beautiful, though costly. I probably wouldn't spend $179 for one of them, though I do spend that much at one go on other hobby interests. I can see why you do spend quite a bit on your puzzles—you seem to get so much joy out of them—and thank you for sharing that joy with us. The puzzle makers you've written about today likely are also true lovers of their creations.
Thanks, Greg. I was mixed up about the artist too and thought it was Norman Rockwell, even when I bought the puzzle.
I resisted the temptation to include an extended digression about the Saturday Evening Post in my review/essay because it was already so long. I found out that the magazine hired a new editor in 1916 named George Horace Lorimer. He changed the magazine's style of content, and hired Norman Rockwell to be its art director and establish this as its house style for cover illustrations. It was his changes, along with Rockwell’s development of a huge fan base for his art, that led to the magazine’s huge success during that time.
I still can’t see a Norman Rockwell painting, or any lookalike painting like this one, without thinking of the magazine. I don’t really know what their articles were like. My parents didn’t subscribe to it - we only got Life and TV Guide as far as I recall. But I would check the magazine rack at the drugstore just to see the cover of the new Saturday Evening Post.
I was surprised to learn that it is still in publication (or more accurately, is back in publication) and it still has the same style of cover art. You can see a photo of the current cover here: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/subscribe-to-issue/?issue=2022-07-01
Hey Bill- thanks for this great review and blog post (*as always). One slight correction I've been meaning to get to when I first read your post: we have B Corp goals and aspirations but have yet to be certified! Don't want to get either of us into trouble with the B Corp police (fortunately, I don't think they exist yet).
Thanks, Jasen. I am correcting that paragraph to say that you are seeking B Corp certification rather than that you are already certified. When you do get your certification please let me know and I will restore it to the previous wording.