The Cover: The second cover in a matter of weeks by newcomer (to The New Yorker) Grace Lynne Haynes. Read a Q&A with her here.
The Cartoonists:
Six cartoons by six cartoonists. As you can see by the graphic, there’s a bit of Tilley Trivia to be squeezed out of this lineup. I believe (and as always I ask that someone out there correct me if I’m wrong)…anyway, I believe this is the very first issue of The New Yorker that does not have one cartoonist in it who began contributing in the 20th century. Here are the debut year dates for each of the six in this latest issue:
Brooke Bourgeois (2019); Jeremy Nguyen (2017); Madeline Horwath (2019); Jon Adams (2017); Julia Suits (2006); David Borchart (2007).
The Cartoons:
As with last week’s Monday Tilley Watch, I’ll zoom through these latest cartoons. The first, by Brooke Bourgeois, takes us backward and forward as many a cartoon does, with Cinderella mixed with a shoe salesman (shoe salesman cartoons are rare!*). Up next is a somewhat less rare cartoon situation: the hamster wheel — an excellent cartoon by Jeremy Nguyen (who did the great Panda flooring cartoon not too long back in the July 20th issue). Following Mr. Nguyen’s drawing is a two guys in a bar fun-captioned cartoon by Madeline Horwath. Jon Adams follows with a parking space cartoon accented with a spot — well, more than a spot — of color. Following Mr. Adams: a Julia Suits cartoon (the most veteran cartoonist in the issue) with a masked dog-walking moment (not centered around the pooch). Finally the second most senior cartoonist in the issue, David Borchart with a pandas on live tv situation. Interesting near circular framing of the cartoon — something that has been mostly abandoned by cartoonists since the Tina Brown age (because of lay-out concerns). Mr. Borchart’s mention of “A Streetcar Named Desire” brought to mind Brando, of course, but also Julia Louis-Dreyfus in this famous Seinfeld scene.
*Daniel Borinsky, a regular Spill visitor, has pointed out that shoe salesman drawings were once not all that rare. A look at the magazine’s database reveals that 48 of them appeared between 1925 and 1998, with 44 of them appearing from 1925 -1955. My thanks to Mr. Borinsky.
…and more: While browsing though the shoe salesman cartoons I came upon a cartoon related to Brooke Bourgeois’s in the current issue. Here’s Robt. Day’s Cinderella/glass slipper shoe salesman cartoon from the August 29, 1936 New Yorker (strangely, Ms. Bourgeois’s cartoon appears almost exactly 84 years after Mr. Day’s).
More Tweaking:
As anyone looking at the Table Of Contents will see right off, this is the Style & Design Issue:
The issue is loaded with illustrations and photographs (including a huge spread). There are full page illustrations, and half-page illustrations, and 3/4-ish page illustrations, and 1/4-ish page illustrations. There is also another major tweaking in this issue. Take a look at last week’s Profiles heading:
and now this week’s:
At least for the article’s title (and for all the titles in the magazine once you get past The Talk Of The Town), the so-called Irvin typeface has left the building. It is ironic (to me anyway) that in an issue devoted to style and design, one of the most iconic typefaces in modern times has been tweaked away. Speaking of Mr. Irvin, let’s not forget his classic Talk masthead, tweaked away back in 2017 (read about that here).
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Must Watch Panel Via The Norman Rockwell Museum
Tomorrow at 5:30, see another virtual panel discussion in the terrif series “Finding Funny In Complicated Times” hosted by The Norman Rockwell Museum. All the information here!
The panelists, above, l-r: Roz Chast, Sara Lautman, Victoria Roberts, Emily Richards Hopkins, and Liza Donnelly. Ms. Donnelly’s work is currently on exhibit at the museum.
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Today’s Daily Cartoonist: Tim Hamilton
Mr. Hamilton, on Trump’s decision. Tim Hamilton began contributing to The New Yorker in 2016.