Thursday, April 12, 2018

E. Simms Campbell: Show That I.D.

A full-color Esquire cartoon by E. Simms Campbell from 1936 or 1937—the eBay seller used both years in different parts of the listing—will resonate with anyone who has ever sewn his or her name label onto an article of clothing. Or perhaps it won't; the situation is clearly preposterous. It makes sense only using the singular logic of men's humor magazines in which women disrobe in public on the merest pretense. The open handbag on the table helps to tell the story, but one wonders how many readers even noticed it.

"M-mm—have you any other identification before we cash that check?"
E. Simms Campbell
Esquire, 1936 or 1937




Note:  E. Simms Campbell (1906-1971) drew more cartoons than Attempted Bloggery can hope to ever unearth, but that doesn't mean we can't dream. Readers with access to original Campbell art or obscure published cartoons such as this one may submit high-resolution scans or photographs to the blog.

Future cartoon historians will want to know in which issue of Esquire this cartoon was published. Diligent readers who know the answer should not be shy about revealing it.

Check, please!


Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Esquire


Attempted Bloggery supports net neutrality.

02513

No comments:

Post a Comment