"We Wonder . . . . How It Feels to Be a Star," by Frances Tipton Hunter

"We Wonder . . . . How It Feels to Be a Star," by Frances Tipton Hunter

c. 1935

photomechanical offset lithography

Frances Tipton Hunter created this enchanting mid-1930s color print, titled "Fairies in the Garden, O . . . . . ," as an antique book plate illustration celebrating childhood imagination. The scene depicts a curly-haired young toddler sitting nestled in a lush garden bed, surrounded by vibrant orange nasturtium flowers. The child holds a small wooden basket overflowing with gathered blossoms while looking upward in quiet fascination at several colorful butterflies fluttering in the air above. Hunter's artistic signature is elegantly integrated into the lower-left corner of the image, anchoring a composition defined by its rich, atmospheric background textures, soft sunlit highlights, and gentle innocence.

The piece is situated within the golden era of mid-century American storybook and magazine illustration, a period heavily defined by idealized, heartwarming vignettes of small-town youth. Frances Tipton Hunter (1896–1957) was a premier commercial artist of this epoch, widely celebrated for her frequent, iconic cover illustrations for The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, and Ladies' Home Journal. Hunter’s work rivaled the style of Norman Rockwell, capturing the innocent, humorous, and sometimes mischievous realities of American childhood with great emotional resonance. This specific plate stands out as an excellent historical record of domestic play and holiday traditions during the interwar period. Original vintage printings of Hunter's mid-century illustrations remain deeply sought after by collectors of classic Americana, antique children's literature, and 20th-century graphic arts.

Dimensions: H 12 ½”x 9 ¼”W

Condition: In very good condition