The late Robert Weinberg hailed WEIRD TALES as “the most important and influential of all fantasy magazines.” Despite the fine writers whose work appeared in the pulp, no one defined the look of WEIRD TALES like the magazine’s premier cover artist Margaret Brundage. This talented woman — who dressed (and undressed) countless Edmond Hamilton, Robert E. Howard, C. L. Moore, Seabury Quinn, and Jack Williamson characters — was born 120 years ago on December 9, 1900.
After graduating from high school, Brundage began drawing for the local fashion industry and newspapers, supplementing her income by working for a Prohibition-era speakeasy. Marriage and family followed, but circumstances dictated that Margaret support herself, her young son, and her sickly mother. She found work as a cover artist for ORIENTAL STORIES, WEIRD TALES, and THE MAGIC CARPET MAGAZINE. Editor Farnsworth Wright paid her $90 per cover painting.
Initially disguising her gender by signing her work as M. Brundage, the artist redefined sensuality for the already scandalous pulp market. Her work was later targeted by New York Mayor LaGuardia’s 1938 decency campaign. Censorship and Farnsworth Wright’s retirement in 1940 saw a lessening of demand for Brundage’s work in the pulp industry.
Margaret Brundage created 66 covers for WEIRD TALES between 1932 and 1945, making her the most in-demand cover artist for the fantasy, horror, and science fiction magazine. Only Virgil Finlay was a close rival.
Although her last pulp cover was published in 1953, Brundage continued to paint, exhibiting and selling her work at art fairs and science fiction conventions. Sadly, the artist died in poverty in 1976. However, her work continues to define popular conceptions of pulp fiction, sword & sorcery, and weird fantasy. It remains popular, iconic, fresh, and inspirational.
On Friday, August 20, join PulpFest 2021 and popular culture scholar Doug Ellis for “The Weird Tales of Margaret Brundage,” a discussion of the stories behind the front cover illustrations of WEIRD TALES artist Margaret Brundage. Our presentation will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh – Cranberry, beginning at 9:45 PM.
Collecting and writing about pulp magazines and pulp art for nearly forty years, Doug is the co-founder of Tattered Pages, a small press devoted to publishing pulp fiction and non-fiction about the pulps. He is the editor of PULP VAULT and two anthologies reprinting THE BEST OF ADVENTURE. He was co-editor of THE ADVENTURE HOUSE GUIDE TO THE PULPS and THE ART OF THE PULPS, as well as the author of UNCOVERED: THE HIDDEN ART OF THE GIRLIE PULPS. Together with John Gunnison, Doug organizes the annual Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention held in Lombard, Illinois. In recognition of his exceptional service to the pulp community, Doug received a Lamont Award in 1996.
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Although remembered primarily for her WEIRD TALES covers — such as the June 1933 WEIRD TALES, illustrating Robert E. Howard’s Conan story, “Black Colossus” or the August 1935 WEIRD TALES, illustrating Paul Ernst’s “Doctor Satan” — Brundage also painted covers for other Popular Fiction Publishing magazines. She contributed two covers to ORIENTAL STORIES and twice that number to THE MAGIC CARPET MAGAZINE.
