An Al Kaufman Self-Portrait

Who can blame New Yorker cartoonist Al Kaufman for choosing to depict himself with his family on his mind? In addition to the more surreal aspects of this cartoon, the eyeballs have been drawn as twin smiling faces. This unusual self-portrait bears printer's markings and came out of a Princeton estate. It was sold last year on eBay.

Al Kaufman
Self-Portrait

Detail

Al Kaufman
eBay Listing Ended October 31, 2017

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cartoonist-AL-KAUFMAN-034-Ink-Spill-New-Yorker-Magazine-034-Orig-Pen-amp-Ink-Self-Portrait-/232544945938?hash=item3624c24712%3Ag%3AEAsAAOSwjkdZ7oeE&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Al Kaufman
eBay Item Description

The illustration is featured—and explained—in Ink Spill's capsule biography of the artist:

Al Kaufman's capsule biography on Ink Spill
The New Yorker Cartoonists A-Z

http://michaelmaslin.com/new-yorker-cartoonists-z/

What do you know? The new owner announced his acquisition on Twitter:

Al Kaufman tweet

https://twitter.com/broomewithaview/status/928406743805317122

Al Kaufman
Self-Portrait

Note:  Alas, I did not look up the eBay auctions of the other seven self-portraits by New Yorker cartoonists from the same estate. Does anyone by chance have pictures of these?

I would also like to hear from anyone who can identify where this drawing was originally published.

Readers are referred to the post "Al Kaufman Photos Surface" from December 3, 2013 on Ink Spill for more about this artist.

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William Von Riegen: Passing the Buck, Part 2

"This Funny World" was a single-panel newspaper cartoon published by the McNaught Syndicate between 1944 and 1985. Many cartoonists contributed to this strip, including William Von Riegen, one of whose original panels for the series discusses a judge passing the buck on the Constitution. The original artwork was sold on eBay in March for an embarrassing $5.49. After fifty years, the cartoon retains much relevance if not much monetary value.

"I just pass the buck to a higher court---
I don't know what's constitutional
or unconstitutional anymore!"
William Von Riegen, "This Funny World,"
February 17, 1967, McNaught Syndicate, Inc.

The artist seems to be writing "W. von Riegen" with a lower-case v. Yet his name always appears in print with a capital V.

William Von Riegen
eBay Listing Ended March 26, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Cartoon-Art-by-William-Von-Riegen-Legal-Humor-1960s-/152478180575?hash=item23806864df%3Ag%3AeTEAAOSw32lYzuLG&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

William Von Riegen
eBay Item Description

eBay Bid History
One bid. Count it.

The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware
Friday, February 17, 1967, page 54

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/154765192/

June 3, 2017 Update:  The new owner has come forward on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/broomewithaview/status/870636264608813056

Quick Links to Attempted Bloggery's Archives

William Von Riegen

McNaught Syndicate

Attempted Bloggery's Judicious Index

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Expressionistic St. Nick: Garrett Price Proposed New Yorker Cover Art

Garrett Price's unconventional cover proposal for the New Yorker presents a Santa Claus with modernist elements of Fauvism and German Expressionism. Perhaps it's reminiscent of the style of Franz Marc. He has written apre below his signature suggesting he has modeled his rendering after a particular artist, but whom?

Garrett Price, proposed New Yorker Christmas cover art

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

Garrett Price's signature
Apre whom?

Verso

Garrett Price
eBay Listing Ended March 5, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garrett-Price-ORIGINAL-THE-NEW-YORKER-COVER-Old-Modernist-PAINTING-2-NO-RESERVE-/361910498636?hash=item54438bf54c%3Ag%3AyBoAAOSwdGFYroj6&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

eBay Item Description

eBay Bid History
Nine bidders place twenty-three bids and the last to bid wins it.

Garrett Price, proposed New Yorker Christmas cover art

April 22, 2017 Update:  Andy Broome tweeted this yesterday:

https://twitter.com/broomewithaview/status/855585225811922944

Note:  Can anyone identify Garrett Price's specific model for this work, if indeed there was one?


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Garrett Price

Proposed New Yorker Cover Art

Santa Claus
Attempted Bloggery's Off-Color Index

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