Irwin Caplan 1919-2007

Veteran cartoonist Irwin Caplan passed away.

Born in 1919, Mr. Caplan was drawing from an early age. After serving in the Army during WWII, Caplan went to NYC to seek a career. During the 1940s, through the 60s, he had 2 syndicated strips. He was a prolific contributor to the leading glossy magazines, winning a National Cartoonists Society Division Award in 1972. (UPDATE: He won two NCS Division Awards, one in '72, and another in 1981.)

The Seattle Times has the obit, written by Karen Gaudette.

Hat tip to Arnold Wagner.

Below are pages from BEST CARTOONS OF 1945 edited by Lawrence Lariar that showcase then Sergeant Caplan's work. There's a wonderful inky fluidity in his lines, even in these early works at the beginning of what would be a long career.





UPDATE: a link to some murals he painted in high school. Great stuff!

Hat tip to Jon Herman!