There was more to his career than that, of course. So this post deals with some of his illustrations made before the late 1920s when his fame was taking hold.
La Gatta loved to depict women. Many of his illustrations included men, but they almost always played a supporting role to gorgeous females. However, when he was getting started in illustration, men were usually his subject matter, and it took much effort on his part to persuade art directors that his interest and talent were focused elsewhere.
La Gatta did do some illustrations featuring women from the start. This poster-style art was painted when he was about 21 years old.
A conventional illustration here, no sign of La Gatta's characteristic style yet.
Many artists, La Gatta included, had trouble correctly drawing British-type "tin hat" helmets that Empire and American forces used.
Another Great War related advertisement. La Gatta is using his "masculine" style necessary for industrial clients such as Pratt & Lambert.
Again, pre-classical La Gatta style.
By 1922 he was able to focus more on female subjects. La Gatta did a good deal of fashion-related illustration during the 1920s and early 30s.
This is close to La Gatta's style with line work supplemented with washes. The subject's feet aren't quite positioned correctly, being a bit far to the left of her head for proper balance; in real life, she might fall down.
Ten years after the Life cover shown above, La Gatta is hitting his stride.
He usually worked with models, but I have to suppose he managed this illustration using photographs or a lot of good imagination.
He is still in a transition zone in 1926: these women aren't quite as La Gatta -like as the girl in the bathing suit a couple of images above.
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