Rea Irvin drawings
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Creator
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Language of Materials
Abstract
Original cartoon drawings by Rea Irvin, created during the period 1910 to 1920 and presumably published in the weekly magazine Life. Handwritten transcriptions of the captions that accompanied the cartoons in publication are also featured underneath the original drawings, and typed transcriptions of the captions are printed on the versos. The cartoons make references to several national and international events of the early 20th century, and are also puncuated with prevailing American social and cultural attitudes of the time.
Biographical Note
Rea Irvin (1881-1972) was born in San Francisco, CA, where he studied for six months at the Hopkins Art Institute. He moved to New York, N.Y. at the age of 25 and soon began contributing his art regularly to Cosmopolitan magazine and the humorous weekly Life. He later became the first art editor of The New Yorker. Between the years 1925 and 1958, hundreds of Irvin's illustrations and cartoons were published in The New Yorker, and his art adorned the covers of 169 issues of the magazine. Irvin also created the iconic character of Eustace Tilley, a fashionable gentleman with a monocle and top hat who, from 1925 to 2000, appeared on the cover of The New Yorker every year except 1994. Irvin also developed The New Yorker's signature type style.
Source:
- Brandywine River Museum. "Talk of the Town: Rea Irvin of The New Yorker." Accessed September 12, 2011. http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/1aa/1aa398.htm
Scope and Contents
Original cartoon drawings by Rea Irvin, created during the period 1910 to 1920 and presumably published in the weekly magazine Life. Handwritten transcriptions of the captions that accompanied the cartoons in publication are also featured underneath the original drawings, and typed transcriptions of the captions are printed on the versos. The cartoons make references to several national and international events of the early 20th century, and are also puncuated with prevailing American social and cultural attitudes of the time.
Subjects
Topics
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Rea Irvin drawings, 1977.253, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source and date of acquisition unknown. Formally accessioned in 1977.
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Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level.
