My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #984

In The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #984 from the issue of March 30, 2026, a rabbit artist is working on a large painting while another rabbit is, it seems, criticizing it. The critical bunny speaks. My submission is below. The drawing is by Mike Twohy.

"For this we stopped reproducing?"

These captions weren't masterpieces:

"It doesn't hop."
"You forgot to use a dropcloth."
"It needs a caption."
"Well, I think it sucks."
"Too many colors."
"I don't look like that."
"Eggs again?"
"Chocolate again?"
"Your struggles are boring."

April 12, 2026 Update:  The Finalist

April 19, 2026 Update:  If I had only gotten around to it, I would have voted for the caption from East Providence.

April 26, 2026 Update:  The Winner

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Easter Hats: Anatol Kovarsky New Yorker Cover Art

The great cartoonist Anatol Kovarsky (1919-2016) was born on this date 104 years ago. Even those already familiar with his "Easter Hats" New Yorker cover of May 15, 1965 might be surprised at the vibrant colors in his original. Nearly six decades later, it's clear that there is an enduring vitality to Kovarsky's art. His original illustration, with all the frills upon it, is currently listed by Honey & Wax Booksellers of Brooklyn.

Anatol Kovarsky
Original art
The New Yorker, May 15, 1965

Detail

Detail

Detail with almost all of Anatol Kovarsky's signature

Anatol Kovarsky
Full original art
The New Yorker, May 15, 1965

Anatol Kovarsky
Honey & Wax listing accessed April 5, 2023

https://www.honeyandwaxbooks.com/pages/books/1003386/anatol-kovarsky/easter-hats

Anatol Kovarsky
Original art
The New Yorker, May 15, 1965

Anatol Kovarsky
The New Yorker, May 15, 1965

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1965-05-15/flipbook/CV1/

Note:  If you need reminding, I'm always interested in posting original art by Anatol Kovarsky. Send some images this way and let me know what you know about them. I'll be all in clover.

Honey & Wax Booksellers will be exhibiting later this month at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. They very well may be showing work of interest to readers of this post. The fair is to be held in the Park Avenue Armory from April 27 to 30. 

On the day of this posting, the original Kovarsky artwork was sold.

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Helen E. Hokinson: Easter Parade for a WAC?

Oh, I could write a sonnet about Helen E. Hokinson's cover for the April 1943 Woman's Home Companion. 

Helen E. Hokinson
Woman's Home Companion, April 1943

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224327039588

A similar idea appears on an undated wartime postcard by an anonymous illustrator. In this case, the garish colors are distracting compared with Hokinson's limited palette.

World War II-era postcard

https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/wwii-military-comic-postcard-wac-just-looking-art-tone-linen-c1940s-unused/13237300

Woman's Home Companion once again, this time without the address label:

Helen E. Hokinson
Woman's Home Companion, April 1943

https://www.ebay.com/i/284292943337?....

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Sitting on an Easter Egg: Oscar Berger Proposed New Yorker Cover Art

Proposed cover art for The New Yorker by Oscar Berger (1901-1997) shows a broody hen sitting on a decorated Easter Egg. The fanciful image portrays the hen smiling despite the inflated dimensions of the egg she has produced. The color palette is limited to red, black, and white.

Oscar Berger
eBay Listing Ended February 14, 2020

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Oscar-Berger-Signed-New-Yorker-Cover-Sketch-original-Art-NR-/143528805946?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=WEtIFz5%252FkfY9UxP8WWeB%252FCaqeVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

Oscar Berger
eBay Item Description

Oscar Berger
eBay Bid History
One bid ten seconds before the close

03584

Louis M. Glackens: Easter 1908

Louis M. Glackens (1866-1933) provided the cover illustration of Puck for Easter 1908. The artist, brother of Ashcan School founder and American Impressionist William Glackens, did work for the satirical magazine from the 1890s until its sale in 1914. The 1908 Easter cover is a bit quirky. It depicts a rainswept Easter Parade and one older gentleman's odd predicament because "his wife was ill."

HIS WIFE WAS ILL.
Louis Glackens
Puck, April 15, 1908

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Somewhat more cryptic are the figures prancing about the border. There seem to be an octet of red devils chasing and tormenting an octet of robed blue witches. At the top are two Easter Bunnies matching the color schemes of the devils and witches—and the very act of pursuit as well.

Note:  My thanks to Dick Buchanan for this, his fifty-third contribution to Attempted Bloggery. That's one for every week of the year and one more for good luck. Dick, to his everlasting credit, maintains the monumental Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. He also contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a splendid post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: New Yorker Cartoonists 1935 - 1962." You won't want to miss this one.

Louis M. Glackens, I confess, is new to me and hence new to this blog.

I want to identify that church on the Glackens cover as Trinity Church, but I'm not completely sure. What of the armory-like building in the background? Can any reader identify these architectural elements as they existed in 1908 New York?

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Easter

Dick Buchanan

Oh, I Could Write a Sonnet About Attempted Bloggery's Index

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Ted Key: Leftovers

So…what's in your lunchbox today? Dick Buchanan has contributed a scan of a long-forgotten 1951 color gag cartoon from The American Magazine. The artist is Ted Key, famous for creating the panel cartoon Hazel as well as the characters Peabody & Sherman for Jay Ward.

"Have a nice Easter?"
Ted Key
The American Magazine, March 1951

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  My sincere thanks to the energetic Dick Buchanan for making his forty-fifth contribution to Attempted Bloggery! Go ahead, count 'em! Dick maintains the exhaustive Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files from which he contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently an informative post entitled "From the Dick Buchanan Files: New Yorker Luminaries 1933 - 1942." 

By the way, Dick recently did some outstanding work researching John Gallagher and he should now be considered a leading authority on this gag cartoonist. Here are the gems he has uncovered:

John Gallagher Gag Cartoons 1951 - 1970

John Gallagher Part Two: 1000 Jokes! - Gag Cartoons 1954 - 1965

I'm happy to share some other recent favorite posts of his:

From the Dick Buchanan Files: Show Business Gag Cartoons 1945 - 1962

From the Dick Buchanan Files: Caption-less, Wordless Gag Cartoons 1946 – 1963

After that, I'm afraid you're on your own. By the way, Attempted Bloggery seeks other high-quality scans of long forgotten published rarities such as the one here by Ted Key.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Ted Key

Dick Buchanan

Easter

Attempted Bloggery's Rehashed Index

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Ted Key: Ready for Easter

Cartoonist Ted Key brings an imaginative use of color to a mostly black and white cartoon. It was published in The Saturday Evening Post of  April 17, 1954.

"Eggs dyed?"
Ted Key
The Saturday Evening Post, April 17, 1954

Scan by Dick Buchanan

Note:  My thanks to Dick Buchanan for providing us with this scan from the legendary Dick Buchanan Cartoon Clip Files. Dick contributes regularly to Mike Lynch Cartoons, most recently a fab post entitled, "From the Dick Buchanan Files: Favorite 50s Gag Cartoons 1950 - 1959." He's cooking with gas, Daddy-O!

Ted Key, the creator of Hazel, is new to the blog. Ink Spill includes him in the One Club, an exclusive group of cartoonists who have published one and only one cartoon in the New Yorker.

Does anyone have the page number for this cartoon? Enquiring minds and obsessive-compulsive bloggers want to know.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

The Saturday Evening Post

Easter

Passover

Baseball

Dick Buchanan

Attempted Bloggery's Hoppy Index

Attempted Bloggery supports net neurtrality

02502

Easter Morning: Garrett Price Proposed New Yorker Cover Art

Good Friday comes this month, the old woman runs
With one or two a penny hot cross buns.

—Poor Robin's Almanack, 1733

Quoted in Wikipedia

It's Easter morning in a proposed cover illustration for the New Yorker by Garrett Price. A man has been out and about walking his two black poodles in a brownstone neighborhood. He has already picked up the Easter Sunday paper and a spring hyacinth. He is now in a delicatessen about to score the knockout blow: hot cross buns.

Garrett Price, proposed New Yorker cover art

Note:  Thanks to illustrator Stephen Kroninger for providing the scan.



Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Easter

Garrett Price

Proposed New Yorker Cover Art

Dogs

Stephen Kroninger

Attempted Bloggery's Dogged Index

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Charles Addams: Rabbit Ears

The New Yorker's Easter 1983 cover was created by Charles Addams. The bunny family of four are gathered in front of the television set, a jeweled egg reminiscent of Fabergé. Cable television was not yet universal and the TV set therefore has an antenna often called—very appropriately in this case—rabbit ears. A rare cover signed by the artist was sold at Heritage Auctions in 2014.

Charles Addams, Signed cover, The New Yorker, April 4, 1983

Heritage Auctions, April 20, 2014

http://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/new-yorker-magazine-cover-only-autographed-by-charles-addams-new-yorker-1983-/a/121416-10553.s#Photo

Note:  Visit the archives for further blog reading about the following topics:
Charles Addams
Easter
Signed magazine covers

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The New Yorker's First Easter Cover

The year is 1925. The artist is Rea Irvin. For the New Yorker's eighth issue, Irvin has created the magazine's first Easter cover.  As he did in the magazine's third issue, he has hand-drawn that very distinctive magazine logo which he himself designed, although this time around the date and price are typeset. The three-color printing limits his palette to reds, greens, and purple, but he handles this so deftly one hardly feels the need for a four-color process. Don't feel sorry for the angel. Even in her heavenly abode she still gets to delight in a fashionable Easter bonnet. And so do we.

Rea Irvin, The New Yorker, April 11, 1925

Note:  You can still enjoy all the old Easter blog posts here.

There's lots more on Rea Irvin too.

01485

Constantin Alajálov for Naturalizer Shoes

In 1947 and 1948, illustrator Constantin Alajálov lent his talents to an advertising campaign for Naturalizer shoes. They were called "The shoe with the beautiful fit" and the illustrations have a beautiful fit as well.

Constantin Alajálov, Easter on Fifth Avenue, Advertisement, Naturalizer, 1947.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EASTER-ON-FIFTH-AVENUE-ART-IN-1947-NATURALIZER-SHOES-AD-/360952779627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item540a76536b

Constantin Alajálov, Graduation, Advertisement, Naturalizer, 1947.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GRADUATION-ART-BY-CALET-IN-1947-NATURALIZER-SHOES-AD-/360951572728?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item540a63e8f8

Constantin Alajálov, The Horse Show, Advertisement, Naturalizer, 1947.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1947-NATURALIZER-Shoes-Ad-THE-HORSE-SHOW-Alajalov-art-Campbells-Soup-Ad-/310976299144?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4867a1c088

Constantin Alajálov, Fall Fit Parade, Advertisement, Naturalizer, 1947.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPER-FULL-COLOR-1947-NATURALIZER-WOMENS-SHOES-AD-/360929675862?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item540915ca56

Constantin Alajálov, Spring Fit Parade, Advertisement, Naturalizer, 1948.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/454300681131460012/

Constantin Alajálov, [Easter], Advertisement, Naturalizer, 1948.

http://www.atticpaper.com/proddetail.php?prod=1948-naturalizer-shoes-ad-alajalov

Constantin Alajálov, [Golf], Advertisement, Naturalizer, 1948.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-NATURALIZER-Womens-Shoe-RETRO-STYLE-Golf-Golfing-Girl-PUTTING-GREEN-Ad-/351085286118?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51be5052e6

Note:  Put on your best shoes and go check out the artwork of Constantin Alajálov on this very blog.

Not getting sufficient product placement? I know the feeling. Fortunately, a number of posts about advertising are at the ready.

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Constantin Alajálov's Easter Bonnet

The illustrator Constantin Alajálov created the New Yorker's charming 1946 Easter cover. Hours before dawn, there is a single light on at the bedroom vanity....

Constantin Alajálov, The New Yorker, April 20, 1946

Note:  Other Easter posts may be seen here.

Constantin Alajálov posts may be found here.

You can still read my posts about Passover here.

01124

Peter Arno's Easter Parade

On a 1931 New Yorker cover, Peter Arno's gangly jogger disrupts the pomp and pageantry of Fifth Avenue's Easter Parade.

Peter Arno, The New Yorker, April 11, 1931

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Irving Berlin's Easter Parade

Judy Garland and Fred Astaire prepare to step out onto Fifth Avenue in all their finery at the conclusion of MGM's "Easter Parade" (1948). Now if only Irving Berlin would write a great song to go with this.

Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in "Easter Parade" (1948)

Judy Garland and Fred Astaire in "Easter Parade" (1948)

"Easter Parade"

Judy Garland and Fred Astaire

From "Easter Parade" (1948)

Lyrics and Music by Irving Berlin

Directed by Charles Walters

"Easter Parade" (1948) Lobby Card

http://store.walterfilm.com/DATE-ADDED/OCT-2012/EASTER-PARADE-1948-Vintage-Original-11-X-14-28-X-35-Cm.-Tit?cPath=57_34&zenid=iurenobdlju63p8p9u15c6li84

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Minnie Mouse's Easter Bonnet

Minnie tries on her Easter bonnet for the March 1937 cover of Mickey Mouse Magazine. Oh, I could write a sonnet...but I won't.

Walt Disney Studios, Mickey Mouse Magazine, March 1937

 http://www.icollector.com/Mickey-Mouse-Magazine-With-Comics-March-1937-Vol-2_i8396978

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Walt Disney's "Funny Little Bunnies" (1934)

Walt Disney's Silly Symphony "Funny Little Bunnies" from 1934 has none of the famous Disney characters, but there are lots of cheerful, industrious bunnies and a few extremely productive hens as well. They are all hard at work making Easter eggs.

Image added April 13, 2014

"Funny Little Bunnies" (1934)
Walt Disney Studios

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