A nervous man dressed handsomely in jacket and bow tie hides behind a tree. Evidently, he means to conceal himself from a woman walking a large dog. He might be able to avoid her completely—but only if the dog doesn't give him away.
When Abell Auction of Los Angeles sold an original drawing by James Thurber on October 27, the auction listing had nothing to say about whether the drawing had been published and to what end it had been created. 
We can only guess at the history of this woman and this man. |
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Thurber's woman has to work to keep up with the dog.
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Is this a potential match made in heaven, or somewhere else? |
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James Thurber
Abell Auction of October 27, 2022
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The presale estimate was $1,000 to $2,000, quite respectable, but the hammer price was a robust $7,500. That evidence of bidder enthusiasm easily could be explained by Thurber's towering reputation or by the strength of the drawing. It is equally possible, though, that those who bid aggressively on this piece understood its place in New Yorker history, regardless of whether the auction house had any inkling. As I have already hinted in the post's title, this drawing is a rough version of The New Yorker's fine cover of February 29, 1936. |
James Thurber
Preliminary cover art
The New Yorker, February 29, 1936 |
And, if you ask me, this guy standing behind the tree doesn't stand a chance.
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