Barbara Shermund editorial cartoons - addition 1

Content Description

This collection contains three illustrations by Barbara Shermund. One illustration is pen and graphite on board and is titled “Abstract Circle.” It was created around 1930 as a The New Yorker spot piece, which was placed between articles and text blocks as aesthetic accents. The other two illustrations are both watercolor, ink, and gouache drawings on paper made for The New Yorker. The first, captioned “Pretty soon you’re in a world of your own, whether you want to be or not,” was created around 1930. This drawing was inspired by Shermund’s frequent visits to the bohemian artist colonies at Woodstock, New York. The second is titled "Why, my dear lady, you’re better off today than you have been in the history of the world,” and is dated circa 1932. This drawing depicts a pompous young man lecturing an older woman. Shermund (1899-1978) was an American cartoonist whose work appeared in The New Yorker from its first year in 1925, with over six hundred of her illustrations appearing in the publication throughout her career. She also contributed to Life, Esquire, Colliers, and Judge magazines. Shermund was inducted into the National Cartoonists Society in 1950 as one of the first three female inductees.

Acquisition Type

Purchase

Provenance

Purchased from Honey & Wax Booksellers, 6 August 2025. This came from the Estate of Barbara Shermund; private collection, NJ.

Language of Description

English

Script of Description

Latin

Restrictions Apply

No