Attempted Bloggery: Monoprint

Showing posts with label Monoprint. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

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 He also informs me that this cartoon was published in Barron's—I had thought it might be unpublished.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.

04541

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Roz Chast: Monoprint of The Four Elements

Roz Chast's cartoon Nature Girl and the Four Elements was published in The New Yorker in 1985.

Nature Girl and the Four Elements
Roz Chast
The New Yorker, February 18, 1985, page 38

The cartoon was redrawn in color for the cover of the collection The Four Elements (1988). The title was simplified and Nature Girl was edited out.

Less familiar is a monoprint of the gag created by the artist in 2013. A monoprint is basically an image created with printmaking techniques, but with an edition size of one. In addition, The Four Elements is hand-colored. This bold image could have been created for a gallery show, although there are other possibilities. It is currently offered for sale at $3,360 by an eBay seller who also has an original Chast watercolor priced at $2,500.