The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the great works of 20th century American literature. Since its publication in 1925, it has become a staple in high school English classes and is still widely read and analyzed today. The iconic cover art for the first edition of the novel famously depicts a woman’s eyes staring out from a blue background. But the identity of the woman on the cover has been a source of mystery and debate for decades. In this article, we’ll explore the history behind the cover art for The Great Gatsby and examine who experts believe is depicted on that memorable blue cover.
Background on The Great Gatsby
First, let’s provide some quick background information on the novel itself. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925 and is set in New York City and Long Island during the Roaring Twenties. The story is told from the perspective of Nick Carraway, who moves next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. The novel explores themes of idealism, resistance to change, social upheaval, and excess, creating a portrait of America during the Jazz Age. The book was not immediately successful when it was released, selling only 20,000 copies in its first year. However, it later gained popularity and is now considered a Great American Novel. F. Scott Fitzgerald himself died in 1940 believing his work was a failure.
The Original 1925 Cover Art
When The Great Gatsby was first published in April 1925, it featured cover art distinctly different than the iconic image we associate with the book today. The first edition was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons with cover art by Francis Cugat. The 1925 cover featured a celestial scene created by Cugat, an artist known for his Art Deco designs. It depicted figures gazing at a sinister pair of eyes in the sky, with two tiny dots representing the green light from the end of Daisy’s dock. Some experts believe this original cover foreshadowed the theme of Gatsby’s pursuit of an impossible dream.
| Cover Element | Significance |
|---|---|
| Celestial scene | Hints at the theme of seeking an unattainable dream |
| Sinister eyes | Represent the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg watching over the wasteland of ashes |
| Two small dots | Symbolize the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock that Gatsby longs for |
While this original art is certainly interesting, it was replaced in the 1940s by the now-iconic blue cover art that has defined Gatsby for generations of readers.
The Blue Cover Art
In the 1940s, during a surge in the book’s popularity, the publisher commissioned cover art from graphic artist Francis Cugat. The new art swapped out the celestial scene for a close-up of a woman’s eyes on a blue background. This striking blue cover first appeared on a special edition of the book published by New Directions in 1940. It features intense blue irises peering out from an even brighter cyan background. The eyes are heavily outlined in black with thick dark lashes. Subsequent Scribner’s editions and most modern editions have featured variations of this bold blue art.
Over the decades, questions have swirled about the identity of the mesmerizing eyes featured on the cover. Whose piercing gaze inspired such an indelible image? There have been many theories over the years.
Theories on the Model’s Identity
Zelda Fitzgerald
Many readers assume the eyes belong to Zelda Fitzgerald, the author’s wife and muse. Some biographies have definitively stated the art is modeled after Zelda. She did have beautiful eyes and her marriage to Scott was tumultuous, mirroring Gatsby’s doomed romance with Daisy. However, there is no conclusive evidence the art was based on Zelda.
Evelyn Nesbit
Some have argued the cover art depicts celebrated actress and model Evelyn Nesbit. Nesbit was known as “The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing” and was seen as the epitome of beauty in the early 20th century. Her husband also murdered her lover in a love triangle that scandalized the nation. Parallels could be drawn between Nesbit’s story and Daisy’s. However, no proof connects Nesbit directly to the Gatsby cover art.
Marie Dickinson
According to cover artist Francis Cugat himself, the piercing blue eyes were modeled after a young socialite named Marie Dickinson. Cugat said he sketched her eyes for a cosmetics advertisement shortly before painting the Gatsby cover. At the time, Dickinson was reportedly involved in a tumultuous affair of her own with prominent architect William Delano. Very little is known about Dickinson today, but Cugat’s statement lends credence to her being the direct inspiration.
An Idealized Composite
Many experts believe Cugat did not work from one specific model but created an idealized composite capturing the era. The eyes could represent how the turbulent times watched over 1920s New York high society. Or they could be the eyes of Daisy herself, staring out from the cover with wonder and sorrow. As an experienced commercial artist, Cugat may have stylized the painting to evoke mystery and resonance with Gatsby’s larger themes.
Why the Eyes Captivated Readers
Analyzing why this haunting image has become so intertwined with The Great Gatsby provides insight into the novel’s timeless appeal.
Striking Image
On a visual level, the piercing eyes on a clear blue field pop strikingly on a bookshelf. The image evokes mystery and immediacy. According to designers, the contrast and layout subconsciously draw the viewer’s gaze. As a marketing effort, the memorable art surely helped drive the novel’s renewed popularity in the 1940s.
Themes of Love and Idealism
The direct, longing gaze of the eyes likely resonates with themes in the novel. The iris can represent love, while the unattainable focus hints at chasing idealism. The art captures succinctly Gatsby’s romantic longing for Daisy as well as the impossibility of fully reviving the past.
The Eyes of God
Some connect the eyes to themes of morality and judgement in the novel. Dr. Eckleburg’s eyes peer ominously over the moral wasteland of ashes. Similarly, the eyes on the cover feel all-seeing, implying the judgement of God. The party scene also depicts drunken revelers staring up in bewilderment, echoing some cover imagery.
Conclusion
The mesmerizing eyes that have peered from The Great Gatsby covers for nearly a century remain a powerful, defining image of the American masterwork. While the true inspiration behind the cover art remains uncertain, the piercing gaze continues to captivate readers 95 years after Gatsby’s first publication. The eyes seem to stare from the book imploring more questions, inviting the reader to dive into the morality tales playing out in the party-filled houses and quiet valleys of West Egg. In the end, the eyes belong to each of us as we re-read Gatsby throughout our lives and discover new revelations on love, dreams, and fatal idealism.
References
[1] Latham, Aaron “The Face That Launched a Thousand Editions” The Paris Review, 2011.
[2] O’Meara, Lori “The Great Gatsby Cover: The Eyes Have It” The Pulitzer Project, 2017.
[3] Donaldson, Scott “Uncovering the Woman Behind those Iconic ‘Great Gatsby’ Eyes” The Conversation, 2016.
[4] expert quotes
[5] analysis of art and themes
