Peter Arno (1904-1968) came of age in the Prohibition Era, frequenting nightclubs and speakeasies. His 1953 New Yorker cartoon sold on Tuesday at Doyle New York seems to evoke an earlier time.
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| "I'm sorry, sir. You just missed the floor show." Peter Arno Original art The New Yorker, February 21, 1953, p. 30 |
The foreground is lit from the entranceway causing the shadows to diverge on the sidewalk. This directs our gaze to both the main figures whom we are meant to see first. The central light source allows the front of both the men's faces to be lit. The patron's trousers and the doorman's have different pressing and tailoring indicating their different social classes. Likewise, the patron's shoes are the more tapered and elegant; he wears a fedora and a long coat while the doorman wears a cap and a uniform.
The drawing is read from left to right, and also from foreground to background. The curve of the canopy leads our eyes back to the paddy wagon, the visual punch line. The smiles on the showgirls' faces are all the same in the promotion on the left and then the frowns are identical in the police van on the right. The showgirls themselves are not distinguishable from one another in either case. On the billboard, they are shown in their scanties with headpieces and high heels. In the van, we can certainly see their headpieces and heels. Are they wearing anything else? Arno may be concealing the evidence.
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| Verso of the Whatman drawing board |
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| Peter Arno Doyle listing accessed October 31, 2023 |
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| Peter Arno Doyle item description |
Bidding opened at $600 with an estimate of $1,200 to $1,800.
Sold! The hammer price was $3,500.
The two Arnos from the Doyle sale, buyer's premium included:
Here's how the drawing first appeared in The New Yorker:
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| "I'm sorry, sir. You just missed the floor show." Peter Arno The New Yorker, February 21, 1953, p. 30 |
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| "I'm sorry, sir. You just missed the floor show." Peter Arno Original art The New Yorker, February 21, 1953, p. 30 |
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| A cartoon by Peter Arno and a drawing by St. Clair McKelway to accompany his personal history |
Note: There's always room here for one more post with original Peter Arno art. If you've got any lying about, please do share it. Showgirls optional.
Is it still okay to say paddy wagon? It probably shouldn't be. But then I can't write black maria without thinking of Charles Addams. Police van is absolutely correct, but it's a little drab.
I know I shouldn't use the term showgirls either, but at least I'm certain Arno would have approved.
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