E. Simms Campbell's color cartoon for what is apparently Esquire's September 1936 issue follows some interesting conventions. The bathing beauty at the center of the image is given an attractive body, flowing blonde hair, and a passive, vapid expression. She could certainly be a movie star and indeed she is a accompanied by a handsome leading man. Note how the couple's eyes are barely visible making their expressions somewhat inscrutable. There is nothing funny about how they are depicted in this cartoon. The others, to a man, have bulging cartoonish eyes that comically reveal their evident preoccupation with this woman. These oglers are painted with comically-exaggerated faces that are meant to contrast with the leading couple's earnestness. As for their physiques, just compare the long-legged woman with her robe draped over her bathing suit and the obese speaker who has his robe also draped over his bathing suit. The caption catches us off guard—where we should expect to hear a word like years, we instead get a cynical reference to the expense of keeping a woman like this happy.
Attempted Bloggery is continuing to explore the work of cartoonist E. Simms Campbell (1906-1971). Motivated readers are encouraged to send high-resolution scans or photographs of original Campbell art—illustrations, cartoons, drawings, maps, ads—or of rarely-seen published works.
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| E. Simms Campbell "I used to know her—four checkbooks ago." Original art Esquire, September 1936 |
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| E. Simms Campbell "I used to know her—four checkbooks ago." Matted original art Esquire, September 1936 |
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| E. Simms Campbell Swann Galleries Sale 2403, Illustration Art, January 28, 2016, Lot 20 Hammer Price |
Now where do you suppose such a work of art comes from? How about Bernstein's Auction in Hopkins, MN? Note that this off-the-beaten-path auction house inexpertly describes this piece as a signed print rather than an original back in April of 2015. It sells for just $90. Oops.
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| E. Simms Campbell "I used to know her—four checkbooks ago." Original art Esquire, September 1936 |
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| E. Simms Campbell Bernstein's Auction, April 9, 2015, Lot 81 Hopkins, MN Hammer Price |
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| E. Simms Campbell Bernstein's Auction Item Description |
The cartoon as published in Esquire:
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| E. Simms Campbell "I used to know her—four checkbooks ago[.]" Esquire, September 1936 |
Note: Was this cartoon truly published in Esquire's September issue of 1936? Don't make a liar of me. I need documentation down to the page number along with a supporting scan or photo. Please help out if you can.
Attempted Bloggery is continuing to explore the work of cartoonist E. Simms Campbell (1906-1971). Motivated readers are encouraged to send high-resolution scans or photographs of original Campbell art—illustrations, cartoons, drawings, maps, ads—or of rarely-seen published works.
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