Fritz Seibel author page

Fritz Siebel biography

Fritz Siebel (1913–1991) was an Austrian-American illustrator best known for his work in children’s publishing and commercial art. He studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Vienna before immigrating to the United States in 1936. Shortly after arriving in New York, he began working in advertising and film promotion, notably creating posters for Paramount Pictures.

Siebel gained national recognition during World War II for designing the wartime propaganda poster “Someone Talked,” which became one of the era’s most memorable images. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1943 and returned to illustration and advertising after the war.

In the 1950s, Siebel began illustrating children’s books, contributing to the early titles in the Beginner Books series by Random House. Among his first were A Fly Went By and Stop That Ball!, both written by Mike McClintock. His most enduring legacy in children’s literature came in 1963 when he illustrated Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish, launching a long-running and popular series.

Beyond publishing, Siebel was active in corporate branding. In 1957, he created the original Mr. Clean character for Procter & Gamble, a design that became a cultural icon. He later founded a marketing and design firm, which focused on packaging, display materials, and visual branding.

Fritz Siebel’s illustrations appeared in leading American magazines and in advertising campaigns throughout the mid-20th century. He died in 1991 in New York.