James W. Williamson (1899–1984) made an immense number of advertising illustrations for such clients as Arrow Shirts, Cliquot Club Ginger Ale, Ford, Paul Jones and Yardley, all treated with circumspect restraint.

In his editorial illustration, however, his sense of humor emerged and became his most engaging characteristic. Williamson distilled action and renderings down to their essentials, allowing the poses of the figure to tell the story.

Williamson was born in Omaha, Nebraska; he was a graduate of the 1923 class at Yale. A self-taught artist, he sold his first work to the old Life magazine while still in college. This was followed by sales to Judge, Vanity Fair, The Delineator, and nearly all of the rest of the major magazines, including The Saturday Evening Post, where his work appeared for over thirty years.

During those years, his work was exhibited regularly at Art Directors Club shows in New York and Los Angeles, winning many awards. Williamson also taught at the Art Students League for a year in 1933.

Submitted by Richard J. Berenson, Former President, Museum of Illustration and Comic and Cartoon Art at the Society of Illustrators

Source:
Walt Reed, The Illustrator in America, 1860–2000