Here are fifteen gag cartoons by the great William Steig. All have been lovingly clipped, scanned and cleaned up by Dick Buchanan. My thanks to you and -- take it away, Dick:
WILLIAM STEIG GAG CARTOONS
1946 – 1965
William Steig was a cartoonist and sculptor as well
as a renowned children’s books author and illustrator. He sold his first carton
to Judge in 1930, soon followed by his first sale to The New Yorker. Over the
next 73 years The New Yorker would publish 1600 of his drawings and 121 covers—that’s
more than two years of covers.
Today Steig is perhaps best known as the author and
illustrator of series of books for children. His Sylvester
and the Magic Pebble was awarded the Caldecott Medal. It was followed by
Abel’s Island, Doctor
De Soto and many more, including Shrek! They are all marvelous books for
children and adults alike.
These are William Steig gag cartoons from the era
when he was hailed as “The King of Cartoons.” It’s a sampling of his drawings from Collier’s and Look
Magazine from 1946 to 1965 . . .
1. Collier’s February 16, 1946.
2. Collier’s February 16, 1946.
3. Collier’s August 14, 1948.
4. Collier’s May 14, 1949.
5. Collier’s December 31, 1949.
6. Collier’s March 11, 1950.
7. Collier’s July 22, 1950.
8. Collier’s August 19, 1950.
9. Collier’s May 11, 1956.
10. Look February 3, 1959.
11. Look February 17, 1959.
12. Look September 15, 1959.
13. Look May 10,1963.
14. Look January 15, 1963.
There's a lot more from the Dick Buchanan collection of great old gag cartoons:
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Favorite Gag Cartoons 1947 - 1958
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Hank Ketcham Gag Cartoons 1944 – 1952
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Hank Ketcham Roughs
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Holiday and Winter Cartoons 1948 - 1960
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: More Cops and Robbers Gag Cartoons 1947 - 1968
Dick Buchanan's Favorite Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1964
From the Dick Buchanan Files: More 1960s Cartoons from PUNCH
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Virgil Parch Part One; VIP in the 1940s
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Virgil Parch Part Two; VIP in the 1950s
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Even More Color Cartoons 1940 - 1956
From the Dick Buchanan Files: "Captions? Who Needs 'Em?" Wordless Gag Cartoons 1947 – 1970
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Orlando Busino Gag Cartoons 1956 - 1966
From the Dick Buchanan Files: CARTOONYFELLERS’ DIGEST, "a 1955 rag for cartoonists by cartoonists"
From the Dick Buchanan Files: Magazine Cartoons from Life and Judge 1931 - 38
From the Dick Buchanan Files: June 1953 Cartoonist's Market Newsletter
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: More Mid-Century Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1964
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Color Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1956
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: Cops and Robbers Gag Cartoons 1945 - 1968
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: Gahan Wilson: Early Gag Cartoons 1954 - 1964
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Inkyfellers' Gagzette
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: The Years of Al Ross - 1947 – 1968
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon Files: New Yorker Cartoonists Abroad 1966-1968
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: 1945 - 1962
From the Dick Buchanan Files: "How I Create Humor" from 1950s - 60s Gag Cartoon Insider Journal "The Information Guide"
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: 1950s Color Magazine Gag Cartoons
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Funny Vintage Magazine Gag Cartoons 1946 - 1963
Dick Buchanan's Cartoon File: Wordless Gag Cartoons 1944-1964
1953 George Booth Drawings for American Legion Magazine
Dick Buchanan: Winter/Christmas/Holiday Gag Cartoons 1940s-60s
Dick Buchanan: Some PUNCH Magazine Cartoons 1948-1963
Dick Buchanan: Gag Cartoon Clip File 1946-64
Dick Buchanan: Gag Cartoon Clip File 1947-62
Dick Buchanan: Some Favorite Magazine Gag Cartoons 1940-60s
Dick Buchanan: Gag Cartoon Clip File 1931-64
As an avid collector of cartoons and an artist whose paintings are in permanent collections of museums, I would love to know folks' interpretations of the Cartoon No. 1 (the gentleman saying to his wife "What the hell are we whispering about?"). Is this simply about a well-dressed couple in a museum with the husband having no idea why he needs to whisper when in a museum OR did Steig include the Picasso-like paintings ("Modern Art") for a reason, as this cartoon is a sendup about (1) Modern Art or (2) those who don't understand it -- or both. "What the hell are we whispering ABOUT?" If he were in a roomful of Rembrandts, would the gentlemen be asking that question? And, if so, why would that be a funny subject for a cartoon? To my mind he's clueless about the Picassos, clueless as to why anyone would have anything to say about them and especially clueless as to their hallowed treatment in a museum and the hushed tones of his wife. So this, in a very large nutshell, are my ideas about this cartoon and I'd love to hear other ideas.
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