The Monday Tilley Watch takes a glancing look at the art and artists of the latest issue of The New Yorker
The Cover: DIY
The Cartoonists And Cartoons:
Sixteen cartoons, sixteen cartoonists. One duo, that we know of (the Spill counts duos as one cartoonist). Two newbies: Sam Lau, and Amanda Chung. They are the 15th and 16th additions to the magazine’s cartoonist stadium this year, and the 141st and 142nd additions since Emma Allen was appointed cartoon editor in 2017.
The longest active cartoonist in this issue is the great Edward Frascino, who began contributing to The New Yorker in September of 1965 (Read the Edward Frascino Ink Spill interview here).
left: Mr. Frascino’s cartoon collection, Avocado Is Not Your Color, published in 1983 by Penguin.
The Cartoon Caption Contest Cartoonists: Sofia Warren, Paul Noth, E.S. Glenn.
The Rea Irvin Talk Watch:
Not too long ago (in 2017) Rea Irvin’s perfect Talk design (above) was booted for — if you can believe it — a redraw. The Spill continues to hope Irvin’s work returns one day.
Rea Irvin’s A-Z Entry:
Rea Irvin (self portrait 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.