Thursday, January 19, 2023

Peter Arno: Night Club No-No

The young bombshell in Peter Arno's New Yorker cartoon original of April 22, 1939 just can't seem to enjoy a night on the town. Maybe she'll tell us why.

"If I could only stop thinking!"
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, April 22, 1939, p. 19

The artwork came up for sale in St. Petersburg on Saturday. Auctions give us the opportunity to look at some art that's been hidden away from public view for years, and to dream of being able to acquire it.
Detail

A thoughtful caption

Detail

Peter Arno's signature

Detail

Verso with New Yorker markings

Detail of verso

Verso with stamps


The auction before serious bidding got underway:
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/lg-peter-arno-orig-night-club-cartoon-ink-drawing-1438-c-2434660b51?objectID=176760365&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=e48a68f94c471405a77df72280ee209d


Just like the Arno cartoon of the colonel in his hunting trophy room, the presale estimate was $800 to $8,000 with online bidding starting at $10. As if.

The hammer price of $3,200 brought the total to $4,000 with the buyer's premium. It's a lot of money, but then it's a really fine cartoon.



Here's a little something the auction listing didn't show you:


"If I could only stop thinking!"
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, April 22, 1939, p. 19



A cartoon by Peter Arno and an illustration of Morris Bishop limericks by Richard Taylor



"Limericks Long After Lear"
By Morris Bishop
Illustrated by Richard Taylor




04204

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