The Monday Tilley Watch takes a glancing look at the art and artists of the latest issue of The New Yorker
The Cover
Since there’s not a turkey in sight (or anything vaguely related to Thanksgiving) on this week’s cover, I’m showing you a favorite Thanksgiving cover (published in 1968), by the late and truly fabulous New Yorker cover artist, Abe Birnbaum.
The Cartoonists and Cartoons
Thirteen cartoons, thirteen cartoonists. One duo, that we know of (the Spill considers duos as one cartoonist). No newbies. The longest active contributor in the issue is this cartoonist (I began contributing in 1977).
Always good to see a drawing by the late very great Edward Koren.
This Week’s Cartoons In a Slideshow
The Cartoon Caption Contest (Shannon Wheeler provides this week’s contest drawing)
The Rea Irvin Talk Watch
After appearing for 92 years, the perfect Rea Irvin Talk design shown above was replaced, in May of 2017, by a redrawn version executed by a contemporary illustrator. The Spill continues to hope Mr. Irvin’s work returns. Read more.
Rea Irvin’s A-Z Entry:
Rea Irvin (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): 179. Number of cartoons contributed: 261.
Abe Birnbaum’s A-Z Entry
Abe Birnbaum Born, New York City, 1899. Died June 19, 1966, New York City. New Yorker work: 1929 -1974. Mr. Birnbaum began at the New Yorker as a cartoonist, contributing a handful before switching to cover work, of which he produced 141. He also provided spot drawings and illustrations. According to Mr. Birnbaum’s New York Times obit, his work was exhibited at The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Carnegie Institute.