Ilonka Karasz: Alas, Poor Yorker

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio—a fellow

of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.

"Hamlet," V.i

The New Yorker artist Ilonka Karasz (1896-1981) created extraordinary covers for the magazine from its first year in 1925 through its forty-eighth in 1973. While her art adorned the magazine's cover one-hundred eighty-six times, it is unusual to find a piece by her that is actually about The New Yorker.

Such a work was offered on eBay in 2017, an illustration that simulated the effect of flipping through the pages of the magazine. Familiar sections are visible: "Profiles," "Goings On About Town," "Tables for Two." Three writers are referenced by surname: Emily Hahn, John O'Hara, and Sally Benson. The cover of the fictitious issue is about the theatre with fancy dress hats, a showgirl, and a pair of eyeglasses. The title of the piece, Alas, Poor Yorker, is also a tongue-in-cheek theatrical reference.

The art is dated May 1947 and appears to have been created for a specific purpose. My conjecture is that it could have been printed as an invitation to a party for the writers or editorial staff of the magazine.

Ilonka Karasz
eBay listing ended May 14, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ilonka-Karasz-Hungarian-American-1896-1981-Project-For-034-New-Yorker-034-1947-/322511118571?hash=item4b172920eb%3Ag%3A--8AAOSwq1JZEh9B&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Ilonka Karasz
eBay item description

Ilonka Karasz
eBay bid history
The last bidder gets it, but there's not a lot of enthusiasm here.

Note:  I would appreciate hearing from anyone who knows anything about this original illustration by Ilonka Karasz.

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William Steig's Lion Shoot

Back in 1949 The New Yorker took this lovely artwork by William Steig and ran it as a small spot drawing to lead off the "Goings on About Town" section. The drawing shows a caged lion at the zoo proud to have its photo taken. It could certainly have run instead as a fine cartoon in the body of the magazine, but it would look great anywhere.

The drawing came out of a major collection and was sold on eBay in late 2010 by Condé Nast on behalf of a client. It failed to find a buyer at the initial offering price, somewhere in the range of $4,500, but when the asking price was reduced to $2,200, it sold.

William Steig
 Pen, ink, and wash over pencil, 8 1/2 x 11"
Original Artwork for The New Yorker, June 4, 1949, Page 2
 Private Collection (eBay Image Courtesy of David from Manhattan)

William Steig, The New Yorker, June 4, 1949, Page 2

William Steig, The New Yorker, June 4, 1949, Page 2

William Steig
 Pen, ink, and wash over pencil, 8 1/2 x 11"
Original Artwork for The New Yorker, June 4, 1949, Page 2
Private Collection (eBay Image Courtesy of David from Manhattan)

Note:  I'm indebted to this piece's current owner for allowing me to share it here on the blog. If you too have original artwork by William Steig, published or unpublished, and would like to see it right here, drop me a lion. Sorry, line.

I did not keep a record of any of the other artwork from the collection sold on eBay at the same time as this piece in 2010, but I'd be delighted to hear from anyone who might have. The collection also included Sam Gross's famous frogs legs cartoon.

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