George Grosz: Firm Principles

George Grosz's star continues to rise. In 2015 at Christie's New York, his drawing of a "respectable" German couple was offered for sale. The man and woman are depicted upright and stiff, walking side by side joylessly on their way to what they anticipate to be an unpleasant social function. They represent the moral torpor of Weimar Germany's upper class. The incisive drawing sold for about four times its estimate.

George Grosz
Christie's New York, November 13, 2015

http://www.christies.com//lotfinder/drawings-watercolors/george-grosz-feste-grundsatze-5938470-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5938470&sid=8506ac19-07a1-4901-a61b-05dc520b3262

03683

Arthur Rackham's Bird Drawing

A pen and ink drawing of a bird made for his nephew in 1931 by Arthur Rackham is offered by Meier and Sons Rare Books of New Canaan, Connecticut. The flowing drawing has decidedly calligraphic qualities.

Arthur Rackham
AbeBooks Listing accessed April 18, 2020

https://www.abebooks.com/FRAMED-STUNNING-ARTHUR-RACKHAM-SIGNED-ORIGINAL/30613647878/bd?cm_ven=nl&cm_cat=trg&cm_pla=want_CM&cm_ite=viewbook

In the year since I archived this listing, the price has been reduced by $100.

03593

A Clare Briggs Drawing for Flu Season

It is now officially flu season in the State of New York. Chances are the drawing accompanying a 1915 autograph letter by Clare Briggs to a fan depicts nothing more serious than the common cold, but one can't be too careful. 

AbeBooks Listing Retrieved January 9, 2017

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=21443772048&searchurl=kn%3DClare%2BBriggs%26sortby%3D1

Clare Briggs
AbeBooks Item Description Retrieved January 9, 2017

December 23, 2018 Update:  Well, what do you know? Just three days prior to my posting this letter and drawing, Mike Lynch posted a vintage 1913 video which includes Clare Briggs making a demonstration drawing of a very similar image. This must have been a well known Briggs subject, as he chose it for both the 1913 film demonstration and the 1915 souvenir drawing.

Video Still 0:56

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Clare Briggs

Autograph Drawing, Signed

Autograph Letter, Signed

Winter

Christmas

Attempted Bloggery's Seasonal Index

02776

Gaston Lachaise: Two Nudes

Two Nudes by Gaston Lachaise:  because you can never have enough nudes.

Gaston Lachaise
Two Nudes, c. 1930

Gaston Lachaise
Christie's

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=6122143&lid=1&From=salesummery&sid=beb2a659-b836-41e3-af45-60484c792804

Note:  Attempted Bloggery has been clothing-optional all week. After Labor Day, we'll go back to the usual dinner jackets and all.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Drawings

Nudes

Attempted Bloggery's Double-Barreled Index

02657

E. H. Shepard: Winnie-the-Pooh and the Honey Jar

A drawing of Winnie-the-Pooh holding the honey jar was made on camera by E. H. Shepard in the late 1960s for a documentary by Hans Keller. The original art was sold at Sotheby's in December.

E. H. Shepard, Winnie-the-Pooh and the Honey Jar, 1960s

E. H. Shepard
Sotheby's Item Description

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2016/english-literature-history-childrens-books-illustrations-l16408/lot.329.html

E. H. Shepard, Winnie-the-Pooh and the Honey Jar, 1960s

Note:  I have not been able to locate the video clip of Shepard making this drawing. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

E. H. Shepard

A. A. Milne

Attempted Bloggery's Honeyed Index

02223

Paul Degen Hits the Links

The 2017 Masters Tournament is currently underway at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. This is the first of the sport's four major championships this year. As if on cue, a drawing by illustrator Paul Degen is set on the links with greater than the full complement of eighteen flags visible. A self-absorbed, pipe-smoking golfer and his elderly, pinniped caddy proceed with great purpose along the course. The golfer is the snazzier dresser. This whiff of social satire dates from 1985.

eBay Listing as of January 16, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LISTED-PAUL-DEGEN-ORIGINAL-ART-WORK-GOLF-INK-DRAWING-GOLFER-SIGNED-/141740893483?hash=item21006a652b:g:yNMAAOSwLVZVu42x

eBay Item Description

Note:  As of this posting the work is still available on eBay.


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Paul Degen

Golf

Attempted Bloggery's Sub-Par Index

Fore!

02147

James Thurber: Letting the Sleeping Dog Lie

James Thurber famously drew men, women, and dogs. A classic Thurber pencil drawing comes to us via Abell Auctions without any caption or context. It was previously seen at Illustration House and Heritage Auctions. In September it sold for $1,500 plus a 23% buyer's premium. It may or may not have something to do with the idea of letting the sleeping dog lie.

James Thurber's signature

Abell Auction

https://new.liveauctioneers.com/item/47611417_james-thurber-couple-standing-at-bedside

Note:  If anyone can relate this to a published James Thurber drawing, please speak up!

This blog could always use a few original Thurber drawings to show off. Help out if you can.

Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

James Thurber

Dogs

Attempted Bloggery's Housebroken Index

02048

A Ralph Steadman Sketch

As we have seen, Ralph Steadman has developed a shorthand sketch of a face to meet some of the demands of book signings and other public appearances. Here a small drawing in two colors is inscribed "For Arthur" and dates form 1999.

Inscribed "For Arthur from Ralph Steadman/8 June 99" with a sketch of a face in black and red

eBay Listing Ended August 5, 2016

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ralph-Steadman-Original-Signed-Sketch-British-Artist-/201635011373?nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

eBay Item Desciption

eBay Bid History. Two bidders, three bids, going down to the last four seconds.

Inscribed "For Arthur from Ralph Steadman/8 June 99" with a sketch of a face in black and red

Note:  If you've been following this blog, you know that "A Retrospective:  Ralph Steadman" is showing in New York City at the Society of Illustrators. It's a traveling exhibit so it's unlikely to be extended beyond October 22. Catch it while you can.

Got an original sketch by Ralph Steadman or perhaps by one of the other talented artists I mention all the time on this blog? Send me a scan and maybe I'll put it up on the blog. You never know...


Attempted Bloggery's quick links:

Ralph Steadman

Hunter S. Thompson

Rolling Stone

Signed Books with Original Drawings

Attempted Bloggery's sketchy index

01983