"Know all men by these presents" is the title of this drawing by
Coles Phillips (1880–1927), which served as the cover of a 1910 issue of the original incarnation of
Life. Phillips' signature technique was the "fadeaway girl", demonstrated here, in which he would combine foreground and background elements of the same color, giving the impression of
negative space. This style became a popular convention in print art for decades to come. Coles was hired by
Life at the age of 26, and he remained associated with the magazine for his entire life.
Restoration: Lise Broer