Bernard Schoenbaum: Elder Statesman?

A cartoon by Bernard Schoenbaum set in a doctor's office was published in The New Yorker issue of August 7, 1995.

"The Presidency? By all means, go for it!"
Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, August 7, 1995, p 67

One wonders why Schoenbaum is mocking the political ambitions of the elderly patient, whom he depicts unflatteringly, aged and pot-bellied, wearing only his drawers and socks. This is no doubt a dig at Bob Dole, who was eventually to receive the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 at age seventy-three, running against the incumbent Bill Clinton, who would be a relatively spry fifty.

It is strange that The New Yorker's style guide insists on capitalizing the word presidency.

Bernard Schoenbaum
eBay listing ended May 24, 2025

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276746401667?_skw=bernad+Yorker&itmmeta=01K21291F6BPNQRHHNG9P1N6EJ&hash=item406f5ef783:g:Sk8AAOSw2qxnQWDR&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1c%2B9yqTT6eahwqA49CUFvT6dRJSeL%2F3gAl4JDJV9Xaa8YNYp9a%2FfmFUIRlZ7323AqPGWtlzDWVsJRZe%2FV0z6QyCtor3zCb%2Bd

xNvX0m6%2BjMCytJS1C7NU%2BdBRuxiwZodLIpkAApTUVzceMOpNhOkF1ONNWQ%2FCZOO2EvMIBj9kptbRlOZO%2FPHm1mOUVZ4z64MZJHusZf7r5MnBLKw%2BTln%2FW%2BBffOzXw2luD1HkkU8FoRKExGbJA2B9l7rgPa3UKz7fzX%2BOkb5Ewr36dFk%2FHwlqu8cCW%2F%2BUWsaSpRmVgiXKdiC8w%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5yYpKKQZg

Bernard Schoenbaum
eBay item description

"The Presidency? By all means, go for it!"
Bernard Schoenbaum
The New Yorker, August 7, 1995, p 67

"The Presidency? By all means, go for it!"
Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, August 7, 1995, p 67

With cartoons by Edward Frascino and Bernard Schoenbaum

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1995-08-07/flipbook/066/

* * *

The cartoon sitting on the opposite page of The New Yorker, by Edward Frascino, takes us to the other end of the age spectrum.

Jack and Jennifer
Edward Frascino
The New Yorker, August 7, 1995, p 66

Note:  I'm still young enough either to run for president or to post images of original art by Bernard Schoenbaum. Please support my efforts by sending campaign contributions or images of your Schoenbaum art.

05025

Bernard Schoenbaum: The Real Thing

In 1985, Coca-Cola announced that its legendary formula would be retired. In its place, the company would introduce a newly formulated soft drink called New Coke. The product launch was a marketing fiasco and the original formula soon had to be reintroduced as Coca-Cola Classic. Before the extent of this marketing failure was fully understood, Bernard Schoenbaum came up with a New Yorker cartoon that played on the spirit of the moment.

"If Coke can change after so many years, why can't you?"
Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, May 13, 1985, p. 52

The original art was offered on eBay, where the seller described it incorrectly as a "vintage 1985 New Yorker artist approval proof."

"If Coke can change after so many years, why can't you?"
Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, May 13, 1985, p. 52

"If Coke can change after so many years, why can't you?"
Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, May 13, 1985, p. 52

The seller wrote, "I am unsure who the artist is." The signature belongs to New Yorker cartoonist Bernard Schoenbaum.

Left detail

Right detail

The cartoon was a timely one, and it was therefore designated for publication in the "A" Issue, the next issue of the magazine to see publication.

The extensive printer's markings seem to have thrown off the eBay seller and very likely caused him to misidentify this piece as an artist's "approval proof."

Bernard Schoenbaum
eBay listing ended June 15, 2022

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284847079943?hash=item4252358207%3Ag%3AZBAAAOSws9FiT104&nma=true&si=WEtIFz5%252FkfY9UxP8WWeB%252FCaqeVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Bernard Schoenbaum
eBay item description

"If Coke can change after so many years, why can't you?"
Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, May 13, 1985, p. 52

A cartoon by Bernard Schoenbaum

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1985-05-13/flipbook/052/

04020

eBay 101: Bernard Schoenbaum's Workout

What's wrong with this picture? The award for poorest photography of original New Yorker art ever presented on eBay goes to...

Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, February 9, 1987, page 42

Which do you see more clearly, the reflection or the artist's signature? Say, is that the photographer's finger?

Bernard Schoenbaum's signature

Seriously, can you make out the gag here?

Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, February 9, 1987, page 42

Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, February 9, 1987, page 42

The copyright notice is dated 1981. The drawing was held in the bank for some six years and eventually published in 1987. The eBay seller's conclusion is that this "May have [been] a study for magazine art?" Why a study?

Copyright notice

Ultimately the seller gets what the seller deserves: just $50 for matted and framed original New Yorker art. This whole process is a disservice to what is probably quite a handsome New Yorker original.

Bernard Schoenbaum
eBay Listing Ended February 2, 2014

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-YORKER-MAGAZINE-BERNARD-SCHOENBAUM-CARTOONIST-PEN-INK-FRAMED-ORIGINAL-/231145523045?pt=Art_Drawings&hash=item35d158c765&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Bernard Schoenbaum
eBay Item Description

No Q&A

Here's the published gag, for those who want to see what it actually looks like:

Bernard Schoenbaum
Original art
The New Yorker, February 9, 1987, page 42

Cartoons by Bernard Schoenbaum and Henry Martin

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1987-02-09/flipbook/042/

Note:  Well, I hope that's as bad as the photography gets on eBay. Attempted Bloggery seeks clear, crisp photos of original New Yorker cartoon art by Bernard Schoenbaum and others.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Bernard Schoenbaum

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03281

Bernard Schoenbaum: For Love or Money

Original 1991 New Yorker cartoon art by Bernard Schoenbaum was sold on eBay in 2016. An older man and a younger woman are seated in a restaurant. She is the speaker and her somewhat unguarded words tell us more than we need to know about what's going on. Does this couple have a future?

Bernard Schoenbaum
"Gee, Mr. Wilson, you have more money than anyone I've ever met."
Original art
The New Yorker, February 18, 1991, page 60

Bernard Schoenbaum
"Gee, Mr. Wilson, you have more money than anyone I've ever met."
Original art
The New Yorker, February 18, 1991, page 60

Bernard Schoenbaum's signature

Detail of Mr. Wilson

eBay Listing Ended June 4, 2016

http://www.ebay.com/itm/benard-schoenbaum-new-yorker-cartoon-original-signed-art-comic-strip-/112007748830?hash=item1a142e9cde%3Ag%3AI0QAAOSwRjNXN8lC&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

eBay Item Description

eBay Bid History
One bid at the close

Bernard Schoenbaum
"Gee, Mr. Wilson, you have more money than anyone I've ever met."
Original art
The New Yorker, February 18, 1991, page 60

Cartoon by Bernard Schoenbaum

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1991-02-18/flipbook/060/

03163