Pete’s Double Headers

Stevan Dohanos was an American artist, illustrator and magazine cover artist who followed the school of social realism. He attended the Cleveland School of Art and worked in fine art as well as in commercial art. In the 1930’s he also experimented with lithography and wood etching. Dohanos was a member of the National (American) Society of Mural Painters and the Society of Illustrators (New York). He was also a founding faculty member of the famous Artists School of Westport, Connecticut. Dohanos is however, best known for his “Saturday Evening Post” covers, such as Pete’s Double Headers. He named Grant Wood and Edward Hopper as the greatest influences on his painting and he was a great admirer of Norman Rockwell. Dohanos was a sensitive portrayer of common objects and was known as an “American Realist” who depicted everyday life at it was. He clearly chose not to idealize American life in the style of Rockwell and focused on the trappings of the American dream. Pete’s Double Headers is the local ice cream parlor that prides itself on their two scoops of ice cream. A refreshing break on a hot summer’s day. Even the local police officer needs refreshment during his working day and we see him enjoying a ‘double header’ whilst leaning on his patrol car, a Ford V8 with a ‘double header’ exhaust system. Even though he is on a break we can still see that he is actively monitoring his environment and is as always on duty.