When Swann Auction Galleries decided to add a fall sale of illustration art to its calendar—there has been a January sale for years—they must have asked consignors for material related to the presidential election to give the event some timeliness. The estate of cartoonist
Frank Modell (1917-2016) apparently complied, providing seven published
New Yorker cartoons new to the market, at least six of them with political themes suited to this election year.
Yuppies, you may recall, are Young Urban Professionals, but who on earth are Yumpies?
Time magazine defined them as Young Upwardly-Mobile Professionals in 1984 and thought they would support Democratic candidate Gary Hart. The term, which sounds vaguely ridiculous, has never caught on, but within a month of the
Time article the
New Yorker worked the neologism into a Modell cartoon.
 |
Frank Modell, "I want Yumpies, Yuppies, Baby Boomers, and anything else out there you hear about."
Original art, The New Yorker, April 23, 1984, page 37 |
 |
"Here Comes the Yumpies"
Time, March 26, 1984
|
 |
Swann Galleries September 29, 2016 Illustration Art, Sale 2423, Lot 285
|
 |
Frank Modell, "I want Yumpies, Yuppies, Baby Boomers, and anything else out there you hear about."
The New Yorker, April 23, 1984, page 37 |
 |
Frank Modell, "I want Yumpies, Yuppies, Baby Boomers, and anything else out there you hear about."
The New Yorker, April 23, 1984, page 37
|
Two more Modell cartoons explore political canvassing:
 |
Frank Modell, "It's nothing, dear. A man just wants my opinion."
Original art, The New Yorker, November 4, 1974, page 178
Stop Trying to Cheer Me Up! New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1978 |
 |
Frank Modell, "We're still debating."
Original art, The New Yorker, October 10, 1988, page 34 |
 |
Swann Galleries September 29, 2016 Illustration Art, Sale 2423, Lot 286
|
 |
Frank Modell, "It's nothing, dear. A man just wants my opinion."
The New Yorker, November 4, 1974, page 178 |
 |
Frank Modell, "It's nothing, dear. A man just wants my opinion."
The New Yorker, November 4, 1974, page 178
|
 |
Frank Modell, "We're still debating."
The New Yorker, October 10, 1988, page 34 |
 |
Frank Modell, "We're still debating."
The New Yorker, October 10, 1988, page 34
|
A 1992 cartoon shows that the "hate vote" is nothing new.
 |
Frank Modell, "On the other hand, if we backpedal too much, we'll lose the hate vote."
Original art, The New Yorker, October 26, 1992, page 36
|
 |
Swann Galleries September 29, 2016 Illustration Art, Sale 2423, Lot 287
|
 |
Frank Modell, "On the other hand, if we backpedal too much, we'll lose the hate vote."
The New Yorker, October 26, 1992, page 36
|
 |
Frank Modell, "On the other hand, if we backpedal too much, we'll lose the hate vote."
The New Yorker, October 26, 1992, page 36
|
These two Modell cartoons didn't find a buyer. The first is a period piece from the 1988 campaign.
 |
Frank Modell, Our staff can talk Bush or Dukakis
Original art, The New Yorker, September 26, 1988, page 35
|
 |
Frank Modell, "We call this one the Presidential Hopeful."
Original art, The New Yorker, July 2, 1984, page 38
|
 |
Swann Galleries September 29, 2016 Illustration Art, Sale 2423, Lot 288
|
 |
Frank Modell, Our staff can talk Bush or Dukakis
The New Yorker, September 26, 1988, page 35
|
 |
Frank Modell, Our staff can talk Bush or Dukakis
The New Yorker, September 26, 1988, page 35
|
 |
Frank Modell, "We call this one the Presidential Hopeful."
The New Yorker, July 2, 1984, page 38 |
 |
Frank Modell, "We call this one the Presidential Hopeful."
The New Yorker, July 2, 1984, page 38
|
It's no accident that cartoons are more political in Presidential election years, but this gem, from 1972, shows that not every crucial choice centers on what to do in the voting booth.
 |
Frank Modell, "Well, Mr. Decision Maker! We're waiting."
Original art, The New Yorker, September 2, 1972, page 34
Stop Trying to Cheer Me Up! New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1978 |
|
The original art shows some mat burn:
Frank Modell, "Well, Mr. Decision Maker! We're waiting."
Original art, The New Yorker, September 2, 1972, page 34
Stop Trying to Cheer Me Up! New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1978 |
 |
Swann Galleries September 29, 2016 Illustration Art, Sale 2423, Lot 289
|
 |
Frank Modell, "Well, Mr. Decision Maker! We're waiting."
The New Yorker, September 2, 1972, page 34 |
 |
Frank Modell, "Well, Mr. Decision Maker! We're waiting."
The New Yorker, September 2, 1972, page 34
|
The group sold off inexpensively, to be sure. Here are the prices realized including the buyer's premiums:
Note: Attempted Bloggery is always interested in scans or photos of original art by
Frank Modell.
Don't forget to vote Tuesday.
Attempted Bloggery's quick links:
Frank Modell (1917-2016)
Robert Weber (1924-2016)
02010
No comments:
Post a Comment