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A Richard Decker Summertime Cartoon
I came across the below Richard Decker New Yorker drawing the other day (it was published June 28, 1952, not quite midway in his 38 year year run at the magazine). This drawing has so much going for it, I had to stay with it for awhile. I’ve no idea if it was Decker’s idea — I hardly know a thing about him so I won’t bother to guess. What I do know is that it’s a lovely drawing capturing a moment. Decker has done a fine job with the look on the balloon salesman’s face, as well as giving us just enough of a scene to let our minds wander a bit to seaside beaches on summer days.
I find it interesting that Decker did not choose to darken or decorate (with stars, or seahorses — y’know, the kinds of things you sometimes see on balloons), but let it somewhat match — graphically — the nearby cloud. His choice seems to make that single balloon all the more forlorn. As a fan of background cartoon environments, I’m thrilled Decker threw in the ferris wheel off to the right. and the trace of another cloud. All that airspace! And below, the crowded beach, along with a hint of a large building at the end of a pier. So much information, all beautifully drawn. The capper, of course, is the caption. You feel for this balloon salesman, who has just made the policeman smile.
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Richard Decker’s A-Z Entry:
Richard Decker Born, Philadelphia, Penn. May 6, 1907. Died, November 1, 1988. New Yorker work: 1931 – 1969, 910 drawings, and four covers.
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Excerpts Of Liza Donnelly’s Upcoming Documentary Film Women Laughing To Be Shown at Swann
As mentioned here not long ago, The Swann Galleries Illustration Art auction coming up next week features The Lee Lorenz collection. Mr Lorenz was The New Yorker‘s art editor from 1973 through 1993, and its cartoon editor from 1993 through 1997.
Swann is having a special event (you must rsvp here for a FREE ticket) this coming Monday with long-time New Yorker cartoonist, Liza Donnelly (I’ll be there too, adding my 2 cents during the tour of The Lorenz Collection).
Go here to see the art being auctioned (Lorenz cover art and more begin around lot 135).
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Lee Lorenz A-Z Entry:
Lee Lorenz ( Pictured above. Photograph taken 1995 by Liza Donnelly) *Born 1932, Hackensack, NJ. Died, December 8., 2022, Connecticut. Lorenz was the art editor of The New Yorker from 1973 to 1993 and its cartoon editor until 1997. During his tenure, a new wave of New Yorker cartoonists began appearing in the magazine — cartoonists who no longer depended on idea men. Cartoon collections: Here It Comes (Bobbs-Merrrill Co., Inc. 1968) ; Now Look What You’ve Done! (Pantheon, 1977) ; The Golden Age of Trash ( Chronicle Books, 1987); The Essential series, all published by Workman: : Booth (pub: 1998), Barsotti ( pub: 1998), Ziegler (pub: 2001), The Art of The New Yorker 1925 -1995, (Knopf, 1995), The World of William Steig (Artisan, 1998). New Yorker work: 1958 –.