Description
Book SynopsisOffers a singular look at early college football art and illustrations. This collection contains more than two hundred images, many rare or previously unpublished, from a variety of sources, including artists Winslow Homer, Edward Penfield, J.C. Leyendecker, Frederic Remington, Charles Dana Gibson, George Bellows, and many others.
Trade Review"A gorgeous and thoughtful overview of the visual record of the early years of the game."—John Maxymuk,
Library Journal starred review
"Michael Oriard returns to the themes of culture and media interpretations of football with this lavishly illustrated book that focuses on the early years of football art in the media."—Katie Taylor,
Journal of Sport History"This is a handsome and imaginative book that will satisfy both readers of football and observers of popular art, and it further cements Oriard's reputation as a most thoughtful and creative interpreter of American football."—Rich Loosbrock,
Sport in American History“A gem of a book that traces the sport’s aesthetic side all the way back to its emergence from the primordial ooze 150 years ago. . . . Where NFL Films and ESPN now stand, there were Homer, Bellows, and Remington. Leave it to a typically cerebral old offensive lineman to appreciate the difference.”—John Schulian, editor of
Football: Great Writing about the National Sport “
The Art of Football takes us deep into the sport’s golden age. Michael Oriard brings us these marvelous images of the early sport, when the amateur game dominated and some of America’s greatest artists took up pen and brush to capture the rough play on the gridiron. Equally important, he presents and discusses dozens and dozens of wonderful images that make early football come alive. That’s the key word: this is lively history.”—Elliott J. Gorn, author of
The Manly Art: Bare-Knuckle Prize Fighting in America Table of ContentsList of Plates
List of Figures
Introduction
1. Harper’s Weekly and the Beginnings of American Football Art
2. The Gibson Girl, the Yellow Kid, and the Art of the Football Cartoon
3. Edward Penfield, J. C. Leyendecker, and Football Poster Art
4. Howard Giles, George Bellows, and the Illustrated Football Story
Notes
Bibliography
Index
