Saturday, May 19, 2012

House Where Evil Lived

The so-called 'shudder pulps' are quite a contrast to the genteel New Yorker covers, and the one shown here is one of the milder of those. This cover is so outrageous that the menace doesn't seem real, but look how effective the composition is — with the needle perfectly placed in front of the hyper-manic face, and the two doll women positioned perfectly in their nightmare distress.

Uncanny Tales — May, 1940

5 comments:

fortunato said...

Are you sure this cover is by Saunders?
To me it seems John Walter Scott (per quel che vale la mia opinione...)

Tororo said...

The Thing Thirsts for Three! XD Isn't it an invitation for posting two more uncanny covers?

Thomas Haller Buchanan said...

Fortunato, it's very possible you are right. I will search for confirmation. Until then I will remove the credit line.

Tororo, yes you are possibly right too, but unless they have a May cover date it may need to wait till June.

Mr. Door Tree said...

Thomas,

According to the David Saunders bibliography of his father's art this cover is not by Norman Saunders... Probably one of those forgotten artists that were asked to emulate a style...

Thomas Haller Buchanan said...

Thank you Mr. Door Tree. My little bit of research also shows that Saunders did no Uncanny Tales covers at that time. The women on this cover look like Saunders work, but I think fortunato may have it right as JW Scott.