The Monday Tilley Watch takes a glancing look at the art and artists of the latest issue of The New Yorker
The Cover: Steedy indeedy.
The Cartoonists & Cartoons
Thirteen cartoons, fourteen cartoonists (Ed Steed has the cover). Two duos, that we know of (the Spill counts duos as one cartoonist). No newbies. The longest active contributing cartoonist in the issue is Sam Gross, whose first New Yorker drawing appeared in the issue of August 23, 1969.
Mr. Gross’s A-Z entry:
Sam Gross Born 1933, Bronx, NY. New Yorker work: August 23, 1969 -. Other than his work in The New Yorker, Gross is probably best known for his work in National Lampoon. He’s edited a large number of collections, including Dogs Dogs Dogs, Cats Cats Cats, Food Food Food: A Feast of Great Cartoons (originally published as All You Can Eat: A Feast of Great Cartoons); Golf Golf Golf, Ho! Ho! Ho!, Movies Movies Movies. Key collections: I Am Blind and My Dog is Dead (Avon, 1978), An Elephant is Soft and Mushy (Avon, 1982)
See all the cartoons from the February 27 ’23 issue here.
The Rea Irvin Talk Watch:
Back in the Spring of 2017, the above perfect design by Rea Irvin, was ushered out of the magazine and replaced by, of all things, a redraw! The Spill continues to hope that whoever makes these kinds of decisions unmakes this one and returns Mr. Irvin’s 2nd masterpiece (his first is, of course, his cover art for The New Yorker‘s first issue — you know, the one featuring Eustace Tilley).
Mr. Irvin’s A-Z entry:
Rea Irvin (pictured above. Self portrait above from Meet the Artist) *Born, San Francisco, 1881; died in the Virgin Islands,1972. Irvin was the cover artist for the New Yorker’s first issue, February 21, 1925. He was the magazine’s first art and only art supervisor (some refer to him as its first art editor) holding the position from 1925 until 1939 when James Geraghty assumed the title of art editor. Irvin then became art director and remained in that position until William Shawn officially succeeded Harold Ross in early 1952. Irvin’s last original work for the magazine was the magazine’s cover of July 12, 1958. The February 21, 1925 Eustace Tilley cover had been reproduced every year on the magazine’s anniversary until 1994, when R. Crumb’s Tilley-inspired cover appeared. Tilley has since reappeared, with other artists substituting from time-to-time. Number of New Yorker covers (not including the repeat appearances of the first cover every anniversary up to 1991): 163. Number of cartoons contributed: 261.