An original 1938 New Yorker cartoon by James Thurber was listed on eBay in February of this year at $20,000. The seller warned that "This will be up for seven days only—if it doesn't sell, to Sotheby's it goes."
Well, it didn't go to Sotheby's, at least not yet. In fact, it didn't go anywhere so far. But its asking price was reduced to $15,000—still up in the stratosphere, mind you—and some welcome additional photos of the artwork were added to the listing. The provenance is reported to be writer Peter De Vries and Peter L. Stern and Co., Inc., of Boston.
Thurber's drawing takes advantage of our tendency to read images, like captions, from left to right. The use of the dark background lends it an unusual boldness. The woman's gait is rendered unconvincingly and the hands, the ones Thurber hasn't avoided drawing all together, are extremely formless and loose. The facial expressions, on the other hand, are peerless.
Well, it didn't go to Sotheby's, at least not yet. In fact, it didn't go anywhere so far. But its asking price was reduced to $15,000—still up in the stratosphere, mind you—and some welcome additional photos of the artwork were added to the listing. The provenance is reported to be writer Peter De Vries and Peter L. Stern and Co., Inc., of Boston.
Thurber's drawing takes advantage of our tendency to read images, like captions, from left to right. The use of the dark background lends it an unusual boldness. The woman's gait is rendered unconvincingly and the hands, the ones Thurber hasn't avoided drawing all together, are extremely formless and loose. The facial expressions, on the other hand, are peerless.
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| "You and your premonitions!" James Thurber Original art The New Yorker, May 21, 1938, page 24 Men, Women and Dogs, 1943 The Thurber Carnival, 1945, page 354 |
After the original listing, the eBay seller added three additional photos of the original artwork which is framed behind reflective glass:
Note: This piece and its eBay offering have been discussed on Ink Spill.
Readers with other original Thurber art to show off are encouraged to show it off here.
Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:
James Thurber
Original New Yorker Cartoon Art
Attempted Bloggery's Foreboding Index
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| "You and your premonitions!" James Thurber Original art The New Yorker, May 21, 1938, page 24 Men, Women and Dogs, 1943 The Thurber Carnival, 1945, page 354 |
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| "You and your premonitions!" James Thurber Original art The New Yorker, May 21, 1938, page 24 Men, Women and Dogs, 1943 The Thurber Carnival, 1945, page 354 |
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| "You and your premonitions!" James Thurber Original art The New Yorker, May 21, 1938, page 24 Men, Women and Dogs, 1943 The Thurber Carnival, 1945, page 354 |
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| James Thurber eBay Listing Ended February 19, 2018 |
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| James Thurber eBay Item Description |
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| "You and your premonitions!" James Thurber The New Yorker, May 21, 1938, page 24 |
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| "You and your premonitions!" James Thurber Original art The New Yorker, May 21, 1938, page 24 Men, Women and Dogs, 1943 The Thurber Carnival, 1945, page 354 |
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| https://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1938-05-21#folio=024 |
Why on earth should this caption be capitalized?
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| "You and Your Premonitions!" James Thurber The Thurber Carnival, 1945, page 354 |
January 1, 2019 Update: The price has been reduced by another $2000—and it's still high!
Note: This piece and its eBay offering have been discussed on Ink Spill.
Readers with other original Thurber art to show off are encouraged to show it off here.
Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:
Original New Yorker Cartoon Art
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