There are a number of New Yorker alum who had much to do with the magazine’s art, but are not generally thought of as New Yorker artists. E.B. White is perhaps the most famous of the lot, although he did venture big time into the magazine’s art department with the publication of his one and only cover (below) published April 23, 1932:
White is also remembered as author of one of the most popular cartoon captions of the magazine’s earlier days. It appeared beneath Carl Rose’s drawing in the December 8, 1928 New Yorker:
“It’s broccoli, dear.”
“I say it’s spinach, and I say the hell with it.”
The original caption, below, as submitted by Rose himself provided the framework for White’s sterling re-working. Rose’s original caption:
“Mother, if I eat my spinach, may I have some chocolate pudding?”
“No, dear, there isn’t any chocolate pudding today.”
“Well, the, the hell with the spinach.”
White, along with Russell Maloney, were considered by Rose the two best gagmen on the planet. All of this brings me to the book pictured at the top of this post, published earlier this year. It’s edited by White’s granddaughter, Martha White (who also updated and revised the 2006 edition of the wonderful Letters of E.B. White). E.B. White & dogs — a combination sure to amuse you through the winter months.
further reading…
Click here for a piece about Martha White at a recent reading.
Click here to visit Martha White’s website.