Original cartoon art by Mischa Richter published in The New Yorker of December 22, 1975 was sold on eBay this past summer. Washington politicians are certainly ripe targets for political satire in any era, but this particular cartoon set during the 1970s recession hinges on some surprisingly uninspired wordplay.
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| "It's a fine speech, but take out the word unemployed and change it to unemployment." Published as "It's a fine speech, but let's take out 'unemployed' and change it to 'unemployment.'" Mischa Richter Original art The New Yorker, December 22, 1975, p. 32 |
Yet it does have a point to make. When economic upheavals are discussed, there is a tendency perhaps for some politicians to step back from the direct effects on people and to look instead at more global abstractions. Richter clearly has something to say here, but the caption's linguistic quibble is hardly uproarious.
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| Mischa Richter's caption and signature |
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| Mischa Richter eBay listing ended August 3, 2023 |
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| Mischa Richter eBay item description |
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| Mischa Richter eBay bid history As so often happens, the last bidder wins it. |
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| "It's a fine speech, but let's take out 'unemployed' and change it to 'unemployment.'" Mischa Richter The New Yorker, December 22, 1975, p. 32 |
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| "It's a fine speech, but take out the word unemployed and change it to unemployment." Published as "It's a fine speech, but let's take out 'unemployed' and change it to 'unemployment.'" Mischa Richter Original art The New Yorker, December 22, 1975, p. 32 |
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| A cartoon by Mischa Richter and a spot drawing by Henry Martin |
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Henry Martin Spot drawing of Christmas ornaments The New Yorker, December 22, 1975, p. 33 |
January 13, 2024 Update: This original artwork was shared today on Michael Maslin's Ink Spill as an example of Mischa Richter channeling to some degree the style of Charles Saxon.
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