Cherry, Sam

"Barbed Wire," oil in art board (20 5/8 x 18 1/2 in.; 523 x 470 mm), [Brooklyn, New York, c. 1939–1958]; edges of board chipped, margins soiled, not affecting image, which is vivid.

Condition as described in catalogue.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Samuel Joseph Cherry (1903–1975) was a master of pulp magazine illustrations.  Most of his work in the field was done between 1939 and 1958.  Too old for the draft during the Second World War, Cherry was one of the few pulp artists not in uniform and was in great demand.  For almost twenty years his covers could be found on magazines such as 10-Story Western, Detective Tales Thrilling Ranch, Thrilling Western, West, Western Rodeo Romances, Texas Rangers, Fighting Western, and The Western Novel Classic.  In 1959, he left the field and joined the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency.  Cherry often used bodybuilder John Hanley for his model, and Hanley is the subject of "Barbed Wire" and several of the paintings in the following lots. 

This and the following five lots are colorful examples of the pulp art genre which thrived until the coming of television.