Jean-Claude Suares, who died this past July 30, in Englewood, New Jersey, is best known for his work apart from The New Yorker (see the various links below that cover his life and career), but I will always happily associate his name with the one and only New Yorker cover he did (it appeared September 23, 1974). I remember Mr. Suares’ cover not so much as it appeared on the New Yorker, but as the book cover for the 1984 exhibit, Seasons at The New Yorker: Six Decades of Cover Art, produced in conjunction with the National Academy of Art.
Walking up Fifth Avenue on the way to my first gallery opening as a New Yorker contributor, I neared the entrance to The National Academy, and spotted Brendan Gill out on the sidewalk with a few other gallery-goers. Dressed in suit and tie, and holding a glass of champagne, he was merrily laughing along with his friends. It was a scene seemingly ripped right out of a William Hamilton New Yorker cartoon. Mr. Suares’ cover will always encapsulate, for me, New York City and The New Yorker on a most memorable day.
Link to Steven Heller’s “Memories of JC (Jean-Claude Suares)” from Print, August 8, 2013.
Link to Steven Heller’s August 5, 2013 New York Times obit, “Jean-Claude Suares, 71, a Daring Times Op-Ed Artist”
Link to the North Jersey. com obit, “Jean Claude Suares of Harrington Park, illustrator and graphic designer, dies at 71”
Link to Mr. Suares’ website.
‘Seasons at The New Yorker’ is one of my favorite New Yorker books. There is something about seeing that great original cover art in detail.