A new piece of Mad Men fan art immortalizes Don Draper, Jon Hamm’s ad executive character, in the watercolor style. First airing on AMC in 2007, the 1960s-set drama, which was created by Matthew Hoffman Weiner, ultimately ran for 7 acclaimed and popular seasons before eventually coming to an end in 2015. Hamm’s character was not only the centerpiece of the show, but has since gone down as one of the most memorable and iconic characters in TV history.
Now, eight years after the Mad Men series finale, a stunning new piece of art shared by artist Brianna Ashby on Twitter features Draper looking as sharp as ever in a watercolor-esque rendition. Check out the art below:
The post, which was shared in July, celebrates 16 years since the airing of “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” the show’s pilot episode, with Ashby writing that it “changed the cultural landscape forever.“
Why Mad Men Remains So Iconic
Before Mad Men, AMC wasn’t a network with the reputation that it has today. Weiner’s series was the first channel’s first crack at an original series, and, on the surface, it had little going for it. It starred mostly unknown actors and featured a lead star that few had actually heard of. The main draw, really, was Weiner’s involvement, with the creator having served as a writer and producer on HBO’s The Sopranos.
Quickly, however, it became apparent that Mad Men was something special, especially after the show was showered with praise at awards shows for season 1. Viewers were won over by the 1960s costuming and set design, and the characters and writing were top tier. Draper himself was the perfect leading man, with the show exploring just who this mercurial but highly charismatic ad executive really is and what makes him tick.
In addition to just the high quality of the show itself and captivating performances from lead actors like Hamm, Elizabeth Moss, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, and John Slattery, among others, Mad Men also remains iconic because it essentially ushered in a new era of television. Weiner’s show paved the way for AMC hits like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, in addition to firmly announcing that HBO was no longer the only destination for high-quality TV programming.
