My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #910

You can almost hear the heavenly harp music emanating from The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #910 from the issue of August 26, 2024, along with one very distant thud. My caption is shown below. The angelic drawing is by Sofia Warren.

"Have you been swearing again?"

These captions just wouldn't float:

"I knew that church organ was a bad idea."
"Butterfingers."
"I told you not practicing might lead to some fallout."
"And that's why we don't play 'Ring Around the Rosie.'"

September 7, 2024 Update:  The Finalists

September 14, 2024 Update:  I voted for the caption from Maplewood.

September 22, 2024 Update:  The Winner

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Jean-Jacques Sempé's Sauve Qui Peut Signed with a Musical Drawing

A copy of Jean-Jacques Sempé's Sauve Qui Peut [Every Man for Himself] (1964) is inscribed to pianist John Philips. It has an original 1966 drawing of a harp duet of sorts. The book was sold on eBay for $104.50 on September 25, 2007 by Dunaway Books of St. Louis.

Jean-Jacques Sempé, Sauve Qui Peut,  Denoël, 1964

Signed "Pour John Philips, Sempé, 1966" with a drawing of a woman and man playing either side of a harp in concert while busts of the great composers are mounted high above them.

Note:  Really, who's better than Sempé? Collectors with original works by Jean-Jacques Sempé who want to see them on a stranger's blog should send scans or photos. It's every man for himself.

I'd also love to hear from anyone with knowledge of the pianist John Philips, his friendship with Sempé, and his recordings.

Sauve Qui Peut is an idiomatic expression that roughly translates as Rush to Escape. I chose to translate it as Every Man for Himself, which it has come to mean, but it also has the sense of Get Out While You Can. 


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Jean-Jacques Sempé's La Grande Panique Signed with a Musical Drawing

La Grande Panique [The Great Panic] is a 1966 cartoon collection by Jean-Jacques Sempé. A copy inscribed to pianist John Philips includes a drawing of a pianist and a harpist preparing for a performance by—what else?—tying back their hair. The unique book was sold on eBay by Dunaway Books in St. Louis for $129.26 in November of 2007.

Jean-Jacques Sempé, La Grande Panique, Denoël, 1966

Inscribed "For John Philips, Sempé" with a drawing of a pianist and harpist tying back their hair on a concert stage

Note:  Cartoons books with original drawings by Jean-Jacques Sempé (and others) are a specialty of the house here at Attempted Bloggery. Please send scans or photos of your own examples of the house special and I'll see what we can put on the menu.

Pianist John Philips, as we have seen, recorded at least one piece by Darius Milhaud in France. His library contained Sempé first editions personalized by the artist over at least two decades. So how did his book collection get to a bookseller in St. Louis? Anyone?


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Beware the Ides of March. And that longhair music.

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The Custom House, Dublin

The Custom House remains one of the most picturesque buildings in Dublin.

The view from Memorial Road

Lion, unicorn, and the Trinity College harp

Custom House Quay

Liberty Hall and the Custom House from Talbot Memorial Bridge

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