The Monday Tilley Watch takes a glancing look at the art and artists of the latest issue of The New Yorker
The Cover: A very Chris Ware-y design (which makes sense, as Chris Ware is the cover artist this issue). His cover somewhat reflects this issue’s “Cartoons & Puzzles” theme (I see a ton of puzzle references). Go here to see the cover animated. This is the magazine’s second year-end “Cartoons & Puzzles” themed issue. The last one was last year. Mr. Ware was the cover artist for that one too.
The Cartoonists & Cartoons:
Sixteen single-panel cartoons, sixteen single-panel cartoonists. I’m using “single-panel” to differentiate this time round because there are a number of cartoonists in the issue whose work is used elsewise.
Beginning with the sixteen single-panel cartoonists listed above, there are two duos that we know of (the Spill considers duos as one cartoonist). No newbies. The longest active contributor in this issue, represented by a single-panel cartoon is Sam Gross, whose first New Yorker cartoon appeared in the issue of August 23, 1969. Very very nice to see a George Booth drawing leading off the issue (Mr. Booth passed away in November).
See the single-panel cartoons in the issue here.
Moving on to the cartoonists whose work is not represented with a single-panel cartoon in the issue: Edward Koren’s work is found in a spread, “Envisioning Extinction” with text by Mark Singer. Mr. Koren is The New Yorker‘s longest active contributing artist — he celebrated his 60th year at the magazine this Spring (his first New Yorker cartoon appeared in the issue of May 26, 1962).
Roz Chast and Emily Flake have a duo effort two-page spread; Ivan Ehlers has a “Sketchpad”; Ed Steed has a puzzle illustration; Barry Blitt has an illustration; Victoria Roberts has an illustration accompanying the magazine’s traditional year-end “Greetings Friends”; Elisabeth McNair, Ellis Rosen, and Suerynn Lee have illustrations accompanying puzzles.
There are two artists contributing comics — they have not been single-panel contributors to the magazine: Seth, and Lisa Hanawalt.
Whew.
The Caption Contest Cartoonists: the Contest takes a break til next year.
The Rea Irvin Talk Watch:
Directly below is Rea Irvin’s Talk Of the Town design that was in place for 92 years. It has since been replaced by a redraw.
In the past two end-of-the-year special issues, the redraw has been replaced by other versions. Millie von Platen did one in 2021, and Ed Steed in 2020. If I had three New Yorker wishes, it would be that Rea Irvin’s original be returned for the entire year, with the exception of these playful one-offs for the “Cartoons & Puzzles” issues.
Below is the special Talk design for this Cartoons & Puzzles issue, drawn by Joohee Yoon:
Thanks for the Monday Tilley Watch Michael – and I enjoyed your WHEW at the end – but in particular thanks for the “heads up” on the caption contest. I tried to bring a new one up early this morning – yeah about 1 am – nada – I usually try to see the cartoons as soon as possible so I have had a view of those. CBS Sunday Morning included Lee Lorenz in their In Memoriam segment. I miss them all.