Ginnie Hofmann Explained

Ginnie Hofmann
Caption:Ginnie Hofmann
Birth Name:Virginia Ritsman
Birth Date:30 September 1920
Birth Place:Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Death Place:Fort Lee, New Jersey, U.S.
Field:Painting, commercial art, illustration, children's literature, drawing
Training:Art Academy of Cincinnati (1938–1942)

Ginnie Hofmann (September 30, 1920 – December 29, 2014) was an American artist and illustrator most noted for her illustrations in the Joy of Cooking and her paper dolls in Betsy McCall magazine.

Early years

Born as Virginia Ritsman in Toledo, Ohio, she attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati from 1938-1942 with James Flora and Richard Staples Dodge.

In July 1944, she married Edward Hofmann whom she remained married to until his death in 1990.

Professional life

In early 1944, at the request of Flora who had recently been promoted to Art Director at Columbia Records, she moved to Westport, Connecticut.[1] She worked as an illustrator at Columbia Records for two years.

Hofmann illustrated the Joy of Cooking, beginning with the Fourth Edition from 1951.[2] Closely associated with the Joy of Cooking aesthetic, her illustrations continue to be used through the current edition.

For 27 years, between 1958 and 1986, Hofmann drew the paper dolls feature in Betsy McCall magazine.[3]

Throughout her career, Hofmann contributed illustrations to other magazines including Mademoiselle (1946–1951), Parents Magazine, Good Housekeeping (1950–1960), and Woman's Day (1950–1960).

Bibliography

Hofmann wrote and illustrated a series of children's books about the comforts and companionship of the teddy bear.

She also illustrated Betsy McCall: A Paper Doll Story Book (A Little Golden Book).[9]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Chusid . Irwin . Economon . Barbara . The Curiously Sinister Art of Jim Flora . 2007 . Fantagraphics Books.
  2. Book: Mendelson . Anne . Stand Facing the Stove: The Story of the Women Who Gave America the Joy of Cooking . 1996 . Scribner . 0-7432-2939-8 . 215, 269–270.
  3. News: Ha . Julie . Museum Exhibit to Tell Toy Story from Days Gone By . The Hartford Courant . September 18, 2000.
  4. Book: Hoffman. Ginnie. The Bear Next Door. 1978. Random House Books for Young Readers. New York.
  5. Book: Hoffman. Ginnie. The Runaway Teddy Bear. 1986. Random House Books for Young Readers. New York.
  6. Book: Hoffman. Ginnie. One Teddy Bear is Enough!. 1991. Random House Books for Young Readers. New York.
  7. Book: Hoffman. Ginnie. The Bear Next Door. 1994. Random House Books for Young Readers. New York.
  8. Book: Hoffman. Ginnie. The Big Bad Bully Bear. 1996. Random House Books for Young Readers. New York.
  9. Book: Robinson . Selma . Betsy McCall: A Paper Doll Story Book (A Little Golden Book) . 1965 . Golden Press, Inc.