Watching Three’s Company, I have always noticed the painting on the wall of the apartment by the front door. It has the word “Life” across the top, and below the word is a female with butterfly wings. Out of all of the episodes that I have seen, I have never seen a good shot of it; always it is just background.
The other day in a restaurant, I saw a print on the wall of a female with butterfly wings. It was not the same picture, but had the same stylistic effect. On the print in small wording was “Life by Benda”.
Doing a web search for Benda, did not turn up the Three’s Company painting, but did show some of Benda’s works. '20’s art deco.
Does anyone know who did the Three’s Company painting? Is it a Benda work, or am I barking up the wrong tree. Anyone have a link to a better shot of it?
OK, more info. It’s a cover from the old Life magazine. Not the Time Inc. pictorial magazine started in 1936, but an older American humor magazine by the same name, noted for its artistic covers. It was published weekly from 1883 to 1931, and monthly from 1931 to 1936.
The Life magazine cover was probably from before 1921, so that it would have been out of copyright in 1977 when Three’s Company premiered (yes, TV shows and movies have to get permission to use copyrighted artwork as set decorations). Copyright terms then were 28 years + 28 years renewal.
Ya know, when I first saw the thread title, I knew that this was the piece of art that was in question, as I have wondered it myself for the many years.
Great info on it. I’m sure it’s value on eBay just went up 200%.
Janet. I’m a sucker for short haired brunettes.
Walloon - you wouldn’t happen to be from Belgium, would you?
Sorry to bump the old thread again, but last night I was watching the 1979 movie Time After Time, with Malcolm McDowell and Mary Steenburgen, and this picture was hanging on the wall in her apartment. There’s a good shot of it during the break-in by Jack the Ripper.
