James Dean Caricature

$95.00$495.00

James Dean Caricature, shown here nine months before his death from an out-take in a photoshoot for LIFE Magazine in 1954, age 23.

One of the most recognizable sets of James Dean photographs, the “Torn Sweater” series was shot by Roy Schatt for LIFE magazine on December 29, 1954, and although it went unused in the magazine, a colorized version was used on a U.S. postage stamp in 1996 and featured on page 8 of James Dean: A Portrait.

These photos were taken in 1954, prior to the iconic movie, “East of Eden”, before anyone had any idea what kind of iconography would soon be associated with Dean’s visage.

Dean was an American actor from Marion, Indiana. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were loner Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955) and surly ranch hand Jett Rink in Giant (1956).
In January 1951, he dropped out of UCLA as a drama major to pursue a full-time career as an actor. Dean’s first television appearance was in a Pepsi Cola commercial.
Later that year in New York City he gained admission to the Actors Studio to study method acting under Lee Strasberg.

In 1953, director Elia Kazan was looking for a substantive actor to play the emotionally complex role of ‘Cal Trask’, for screenwriter Paul Osborn’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel East of Eden.
Before casting Cal, Elia Kazan said that he wanted “a Brando” for the role and Paul Osborn suggested Dean, a relatively unknown young actor. Dean met with Steinbeck, who did not like the moody, complex young man personally, but thought him to be perfect for the part. Dean was cast in the role and on April 8, 1954, left New York City and headed for Los Angeles to begin shooting.
Much of Dean’s performance in the film was unscripted and his performance in the film foreshadowed his role as Jim Stark in Rebel Without A Cause. Both characters are angst-ridden protagonists and misunderstood outcasts, desperately craving approval from their fathers.

In 1954, Dean became interested in developing an auto racing career. He purchased various vehicles after filming for East of Eden had concluded, including a Triumph Tiger T110 and a Porsche 356.
Just before filming began on Rebel Without a Cause, he competed in his first professional event at the Palm Springs Road Races, which was held in Palm Springs, California on March 26–27, 1955. Dean achieved first place in the novice class, and second place at the main event.

Dean was scheduled to compete at a racing event in Salinas, California on October 1–2, 1955.

On September 30, 1955, Dean left for the event from Los Angeles; he drove with Rolf Wütherich, the German mechanic from the Porsche factory who maintained Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder.

On U.S. Route 466, (currently SR 46) at approximately 5:45 p.m. a 1950 Ford Tudor was passing through an intersection while turning left, ahead of the oncoming Porsche. Dean, unable to stop in time, slammed into the passenger’s side of the Ford resulting in Dean’s car bouncing across the pavement onto the side of the highway. Dean’s passenger, Wütherich, was thrown from the Porsche, while Dean was trapped in the car and sustained numerous fatal injuries, including a broken neck.

Dean was pronounced dead on arrival shortly after he arrived by ambulance at the Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital at 6:20 p.m.

He was 24.

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Description

All prints are produced using Giclee printing process which is used for archival art reproduction. This process uses fade-resistant archival pigment-based ink which lasts over 100 years. All prints are printed on 310GSM, Luxurious mould-made, 100% cotton rag Archival Certified watercolor paper.

Archival Conservation Mat is included with your purchase. Mat is a high quality, 4 ply (1/16″) surround mat. These frame mats are acid-free & Lignin-free made with 100% virgin alpha-cellulose surface, core and backing papers. So your caricature with mat will fit into a standard comparable frame either “20” x 24″ or “16” x 20″ depending on the print size, (frame not included). Price also includes a Backer Board.

32″ x 40″ stretch canvas print is produced by Giclee printing process and are hand stretched over heavy duty American made white pine. The canvas print is varnished twice after printing. The canvas prints are ready to hang (complete with hanging wire).

Additional information

Weight .25 lbs
Dimensions 16 × 20 × .25 in
Print Size

32" x 40" Stretched Canvas Print $495, 20" x 24" Stretched Canvas Print $330, 11" x 14" Watercolor Print $95, 16" x 20" Watercolor Print $185