"Gibson Girl" cover illustration for "Collier's Weekly" (1909): a beautifully framed antique

It is interesting to note that Charles Dana Gibson’s long career began with a string of failures. These early setbacks were over by 1890 when the artist published his first “Gibson Girl” drawing. By the end of the decade, the Art of had entered its Golden Age and the Gibson Girl had made CDG the leader of America's Illustrators community. Nine years later, when he produced his cover illustration for Collier’s November 1909 fiction issue, the Gibson Girl was fighting hard to hold her exalted ground against a bevy of younger rivals. these included Coles Philips's “Fadeaway Girl,” James Montgomery Flagg’s “Yankee Girl,” Harrison Fisher’s “American Girl,” and Howard Chandler Christy’s “Christy Girl.” While the blush was fading from the Gibson Girl’s cheeks, the artist carried her along as he presided as President of the newly formed Society of Illustrators. But when the Great War started in Europe in 1914, CDG allowed her to retire. He then shifted his attention to the war and rousing public resentment against Germany’s aggression against France and humanity. In 1917, CDG agreed to head President Wilson's newly formed Division of Pictorial Publicity. During the next two years, as he organized and directed a legion of illustrators in their effort to build support for the war against Germany, the lovely Gibson Girl finally faded from view.