Sketches. In Pen and Ink by Ed Barnby

Barnby, Ed

Date d'édition : 1905

A propos de cet article

Plausibly professional cartoon artist's handiwork, although we haven't been able as yet to find out anything about the artist other than his name. The humorous drawings and caricatures leave the strongest impression, but there are straight portraits, some American patriotic drawings, sentimental genre scenes and a miscellany of other types of drawing. Bound on the top, the binding measuring 26.5 in height, 21 cm in width. With 102 leaves, of a somewhat light wax paper, containing original drawings, including the title page, which has watercolored detailing, after which all the drawings are entirely pen-and-ink, with no color. The drawings are on a single side, or the rectos, with their versos blank. Several of the illustrations are of "Alfred E. Newman", or shall we say, the precursor of the Mad magazine mascot. Bringing coherence to the album is that many of the cartoons chronicle events in the year 1905. Thus there is an indirect reference to the last yellow fever epidemic in the U.S., which occurred in New Orleans in 1905. The specific illustration is captioned "Mosquito Time", and its drawing is of Uncle Sam, with a mosquito landed on his left hand. Several of the illustrations cohere to one another, forming a brief narrative. Another image appears to be of Will Rogers, who got his big break in 1905 when he lassoed a runaway pony in Madison Square Garden. (However, we aren't 100 percent sure this is of Rogers.) As the norm of the day, Racism enters into a fair number of the images -- and the Racism was intended, not a latter day re-interpretation of the content. Humor informs many, but by no means all, of the drawings. Some are more straightforward portraits. Professional politicians -- Theodore Roosevelt, for one -- figure in many of the illustrations, but there are also pictures of nameless hobos, bums, ne'er do wells, animals (frogs, monkeys). There are several portraits of whom we believe was Lily Elsie, a celebrated beauty and actress of the day. While it is obvious that Barnby was influenced by the cartoon artwork then dominating the funny pages of Hearst and Pulitzer newspapers, the artwork throughout has a polish and panache. There can be no question that Barnby was executing exactly what he envisioned in his mind's eye. Bound at the top, measuring 26 by 20 cm. 125 leaves, with a pen-and-ink illustration, usually a caricature(s) on every leaf. (The writing is only on the top side -- all backs are blank.) Modern black cloth. Blue endpapers of light paper and thus a few creases on FFEP which tends not to fall into place when cover is being shut unless done with care. Scattered soil and foxing on leaves with content, with age toned margins, but drawings always crisp, clear, Title page has repaired hole, with the paper used to close hole a bright white and contrasting with the brownish yellowish thin leaf of the notebook.

N° de réf. du vendeur 007368

Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: Sketches. In Pen and Ink by Ed Barnby
• Date de parution: 1905
• Reliure: Cloth
• État de l'article: Good
• Catalogues du vendeur:
  • Caricatures
  • Americana
  • Original Art
  • Albums and Sketchbooks
  • Original Artwork