Lászlo Roth: More Esquire Cartoons

This week we have seen a single example of artist Lászlo Roth's work as a New Yorker spot illustrator dating from the 1970s. We have also seen a trio of his color Esquire cartoons published in the 1950s. Jeff Nelson has now come forward with four more of Roth's Esquire cartoons, each published in 1955. As with the cartoons shown in yesterday's post, they make use of a variety of unusual media and include elements of collage.

"Boss, everybody in the office chipped in so you could get a little practice. . . just in case!"
Lászlo Roth
Esquire, February 1955, page 63

Image courtesy of Jeff Nelson

"Will you stop drawing all over the wall!"
Lászlo Roth
Esquire, April 1955, page 74

Image courtesy of Jeff Nelson

"Furthermore, an apple a day keeps the doctor away!"
Lászlo Roth
Esquire, May 1955, page 72

Image courtesy of Jeff Nelson

"Bwango takes his wife everywhere[.]"
Lászlo Roth
Esquire, August 1955, page 60

Image courtesy of Jeff Nelson

Spread views from Esquire Classic:

Note:  Once again I want to thank Jeff Nelson for providing the images by Lászlo Roth from Esquire magazine.

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Lászlo Roth: Esquire Cartoons

Yesterday's post about illustrator Lászlo Roth identified him as a New Yorker spot artist. This prompted reader Jeff Nelson to shed some light on another aspect of Roth's career. Jeff sent in three vintage color cartoons from Esquire magazine. These were published between January 1955 and January 1957. They are noteworthy for their versatile technique and for the prominent and unusual use of collage elements in each of them.

"Adam, I'm turning over a new leaf today!"
Lászlo Roth
Esquire, January 1955, page 47

Image courtesy of Jeff Nelson

"How are you fixed for blades?"
Lászlo Roth
Esquire, May 1956, page 83

Image courtesy of Jeff Nelson

"I've been coming here for fifteen years and they haven't struck oil yet[.]"
Lászlo Roth
Esquire, January 1957, page 90

Image courtesy of Jeff Nelson

From Esquire Classic:

Note:  My sincere thanks go to contributor Jeff Nelson for allowing me to keep this Lászlo Roth appreciation going a bit longer.

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Lászlo Roth, New Yorker Spot Artist

The history of New Yorker spot drawings is rife with mysteries. Far less is known about the spots than about the cartoons or covers created for the magazine. Some are by familiar names—Otto Soglow, James Thurber, Arthur Getz, Abe Birnbaum—with familiar, even unmistakeable, styles. Others, though, are by less familiar, or sometimes frankly obscure, artists. Identifying these illustrators is often challenging. Signatures may be illegible, or mere initials, or absent altogether. In my June 27 post, I noted a long-forgotten spot drawing signed with only a first name, Lászlo, from the issue of June 19, 1978. It depicts children on a camel ride, very likely the one at the Bronx Zoo. Who might Lászlo be, I wondered. There are any number of artists with the name, but none is widely known for working at The New Yorker.

Or so I thought. The answer, I believe, was to be found all along on eBay. A series of original works of greeting card art by illustrator Lászlo Roth (1921-1996) had been listed on the auction site since at least October of 2020 and was eventually sold for an undisclosed price (less than $200) on July 19, 2021. Promisingly, Roth signed his name Lászlo with an acute accent over the á (but not the o).

The eBay listing identifies him as a New Yorker artist and, in this case, that might even be accurate. Lászlo's technique seems very versatile, and his style shifts from one group of subjects to the next. Unfortunately, the eBay listing gives no examples of the artist's work on scratchboard, which is apparently what he used for the New Yorker spot. Still, he seems to be the Lászlo we're looking for.

Lászlo Roth
eBay listing ended 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323962024635?hash=item4b6da432bb%3Ag%3AtBIAAOSwQjhdtzAj&nma=true&si=WEtIFz5%252FkfY9UxP8WWeB%252FCaqeVQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Lászlo Roth
eBay item description

[End of eBay listing]

Spot drawing by Lászlo Roth and cartoon by George Booth

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1978-06-19/flipbook/034/

Note:  I'd love to hear from anyone with more information about Lászlo Roth and his spot work for The New Yorker.

Today, happily, The New Yorker gives full credit to its spot artists.

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The CartoonStock Caption Contest #136

In 2005, a cartoon by Jason Patterson set in a tailor's shop appeared in The New Yorker.

Two weeks ago, for no apparent reason, the cartoon was repurposed by CartoonStock into a caption contest. After fourteen days, the CartoonStock Caption Contest #136 still seems a really strange fit. My three entries may be seen below. 

"Haven't I seen these pants before, Mr. Mankoff?"
"Are you sure you're carrying a wallet?"
"No, not a stitch to be seen anywhere."

September 1, 2021 Update:  The Winner

Cartoons by Jason Patterson and John O'Brien

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/2005-12-12/flipbook/060/

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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.

Roz Chast
eBay listing accessed August 12, 2021

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124829341081?hash=item1d10689599:g:l9EAAOSwHGthAbCR

Roz Chast
eBay item description

https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?item=124829341081&_ssn=schubertiade_music_and_arts&_osacat=0&hash=item1d10689599%3Ag%3Al9EAAOSwHGthAbCR&_odkw=&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Chast&_sacat=0

Cartoons by Roz Chast and Lee Lorenz

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1985-02-18/flipbook/038/

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #767

I couldn't quite get a grip on The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #767 from the issue of August 16, 2021. My caption is shown below, although I neglected to enter it. The cartoon is by Pia Guerra and Ian Boothby.

"What does a woman have to do to get a drink around here?"

August 28, 2021 Update:  The Finalists

August 30, 2021 Update:  I voted for the caption from Steamboat Springs.

September 6, 2021 Update:  The Winner

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