Two well-dressed, older couples slowly make their way down a Broadway theater aisle when everyone else is already seated. The men, without benefit of an usher, look somewhat lost as they extend their necks at extreme angulations; the overdressed women look rather imperious and don't condescend to open their eyes.
When Heritage Auctions originally listed this drawing, the artist was improbably identified as William Steig. This unsigned art, though, is a bit crude and looks nothing like anything Steig ever drew, but at some point somebody did write the artist's name on the back. The auction house now identifies the creator as merely American Artist, which is almost certainly correct, if not very helpful. They describe the art with the words "probable cover," but probably not is more like it. There are no absolute rules for what a New Yorker cover should look like, but it generally should have a clear focus, good design, and it should make a strong artistic or humorous point. This piece is likely a rough cover proposal never purchased by the magazine. At auction, it was not sold—again.
Note: The artist remains unidentified, but perhaps you can help. Other blog posts of mine with artwork by unknown or anonymous artists can be seen here.
A few other examples of proposed New Yorker cover art—that is, not published in the magazine—may be found here.
When Heritage Auctions originally listed this drawing, the artist was improbably identified as William Steig. This unsigned art, though, is a bit crude and looks nothing like anything Steig ever drew, but at some point somebody did write the artist's name on the back. The auction house now identifies the creator as merely American Artist, which is almost certainly correct, if not very helpful. They describe the art with the words "probable cover," but probably not is more like it. There are no absolute rules for what a New Yorker cover should look like, but it generally should have a clear focus, good design, and it should make a strong artistic or humorous point. This piece is likely a rough cover proposal never purchased by the magazine. At auction, it was not sold—again.
 |
| http://fineart.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=5126&lotNo=78341 |
December 9, 2023 Update: Ten years after I first wrote about this godawful piece it's either still on the market or back on the market again. It is misattributed to the great William Steig on the flimsiest of evidence, as it was originally. This time it is offered by Doodletown Farm Books for the unjustifiable price of $1,250. Caveat emptor.
 |
| "Signed on reverse by Steig (1908-2003)." You can find numerous examples of Steig's actual signature either on this blog or elsewhere on the internet. |
 |
| Artist Unidentified Rejected New Yorker Cover Doodletown Farm Books listing on AbeBooks accessed December 9, 2023 |
A few other examples of proposed New Yorker cover art—that is, not published in the magazine—may be found here.
0994
No comments:
Post a Comment