Bob Eckstein: A Hollywood Agent Monoprint

A monoprint is simply a one-off print. With an edition size of one, it is by definition unique.

This particular monoprint by New Yorker cartoonist Bob Eckstein shows a Hollywood agent in his office speaking with a character of Pufnstufian proportions. (Actually, it's Bingo of "The Banana Splits." Sorry, H.R.P.  fans.)

The artist's signature and the caption are printed. The print is additionally signed in full in pencil, dated 2012, numbered 1/1, and branded with a copyright symbol as well.

Bob Eckstein's signature

Why make a monoprint of a cartoon? My conjecture, knowing Mr. Eckstein's practice, is that this is a hand-shaded print. The artist may make any number of prints of his drawing, then shade or even color them, and finally choose a favorite to be the definitive version of the cartoon. The monoprint then effectively serves as an original.

When this print was sold on eBay in October, the seller asserted that this was a New Yorker cartoon. In point of fact it was published in Barron's.

Bob Eckstein
eBay listing ended October 4, 2023

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225156727644?hash=item346c63035c:g:n1cAAOSwG4tjG8OA&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwKN3Sbww2erTQL9kiMZPCUqLSTNhUbtXtNC4uJoX21E9bpEC10ulqJB6PQIWdNGcElLNBtuWi5J6HE2hPppX6MDASFAsrmjbvP7zKlqw52cS

2kGprmZ5fwMuFtst5weGHt%2Fm8sj3wmFtxErjX%2BKdnFxSmbeCu7pgqTB5m9weZf8brwlvD9JK82pPHGuHY2CHDu%2FVqp7UNUhAUnKyH6WZ7dB9W5FQHCCsVbENjZvDcb5iHfwN7CryEeEqrhWU5bvEzg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4by0JKVYw

Bob Eckstein
eBay item description

December 28,2023 Update:  In a personal communication, the artist, Bob Eckstein, confirms my conjecture about his use of prints. He also informs me that this cartoon was published in Barron's—I had thought it might be unpublished. I have amended the text accordingly. Thanks, Bob.

Thanks as well to joecab for correcting me about the potential client's true identity in the comments section below. I still contend that the Banana Splits's proportions were "Pufnstufian," but I fear my pop culture cred is fading fast.

Note:  The drawing is archived on CartoonStock's website here.

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The Unread P. C. Vey

Back in 2012, I attended a cartoon art auction at the Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff. There I photographed an original cartoon by P. C. Vey which was up on the auction block. At the time I believed it to be unpublished.

"You may not want to read this book but you'll certainly want others to think you've read it."
P. C. Vey
Original art
Barron's

But today the cartoon is listed on CartoonStock as having been published in Barron's. Good for them. Almost certainly, it was first offered to The New Yorker and, for whatever reason, not accepted.

https://www.cartoonstock.com/cartoon?searchID=BA500103

Most New Yorker readers, including this blogger, probably share some degree of regret in not wanting to read everything that we should, and in not being able to read everything that we want. In this week's magazine, we learn that Vey gave The New Yorker a second chance at celebrating the unread book. This time, happily, the magazine's editors did not demur.

A spot drawing by Peter Oumanski and a cartoon by P. C. Vey

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/2022-03-21/flipbook/24/

Note:  P. C. Vey's work has not been collected in book form, so there's nothing there to avoid reading.

You can still leave unread my 2012 account of the "Art Auction for Morton." It is enshrined in the archives here.

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