Qq Rr SsTt UuVvW%A;XxYy Zz1234567890&fECT.W£%!? ( )[1 Ad Bb CcDdEcFfGgHhIiJjKkLIMmNnOo Pp PUBLISHED BY INTERNATIONALTYPEFACE CORPORATION,VOLUME EIGHT, NUMBER THREE, SEPT. 1981 UPPER AND LOWER CASE. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TYPOGRAPHICS
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We•VOLUME EIGHT, NUMBER THREE, SEPTEMBER, 1981 EDITOR: EDWARD GOTTSCHALL EDITORIAL/DESIGN CONSULTANTS: LOUIS DORFSMAN, ALAN PECKOLICK ART DIRECTOR: BOB FARBER U&LC: EDITORIAL DIRECTORS: AARON BURNS, EDWARD RONDTHALER ASSOCIATE EDITOR: MARION MULLER RESEARCH DIRECTOR: RHODA SPARSER LUBALIN YESTERDAY, BUSINESS MANAGER:JOHN PRENTKI ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION MANAGER: HELENA WALLSCHLAG ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR: JULIET TRAY ISSN ART/PRODUCTION: ILENE MEHL, SID TIMM. JUREK WAJDOWIC TODAY
INTERNATIONAL TYPEFACE CORPORATION 1981 PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR AND TOMORROW IN MARCH. JUNE • SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER BY INTERNATIONAL TYPEFACE CORPORATION 2 HAMMARSKJOLD PLAZA. NEW YORK, N.Y. 10017 A JOINTLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UBALIN, BURNS 6 CO., INC. AND PHOTO.LETTERING. INC. CONTROLLED CIRCULATION POSTAGE PAID AT NEW YORK, N.Y. U&lc was born in 1973. In eight years it has grown from AND AT FARMINGDALE, N.Y. USTS PUBL. 073030 ISSN 0362.245 PUBLISHED IN U.S.A. ITC FOUNDERS: a 20-page black-and-white tabloid mailed to 20,000 AARON BURNS, PRESIDENT EDWARD RONOTHALER, CHAIRMAN EMERITUS HERB LUBALIN. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT 1970-1981 people in the United States to an 84-198 page journal ITC OFFICERS 1981: GEORGE SOHN, CHAIRMAN AARON BURNS, PRESIDENT with multicolor pages, a circulation of more than EDWARD GOTTSCHALL, VICE PRESIDENT, INFORMATION AND MARKETING SERVICES JOHN L. PETERSON, VICE PRESIDENT, SALES AND MARKETING JOHN PRENTKI, VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND GENERAL MANAGER EDWARD BENGUIAT, VICE PRESIDENT 150,004 throughout the world and a pass-along reader- BOB FARBER. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT IARNA SHANKS, DIRECTOR, ITC CENTER ship of over 1/2 million. U.S. SINGLE COPIES SISO ELSEWHERE, SINGLE COPIES 5E.50 TO QUALIFY FOR FREE SUBSCRIPTION COMPLETE AND RETURN THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM IN THIS ISSUE TO ITC OR 1NRITE TO But its real growth and value lie not in its vital statis- THE ITC EXECUTIVE OFFICE, 2 HANIMARSKJOLD PLAZA, NEW YORK, N.Y 0017 tics. As its editorial and design director Herb Lubalin gave it a unique content and graphic vibrancy. This issue, In This Issue Cover produced posthumously, is the last one planned by him. Introduction to our invitational color section, featuring Herb has left a wonderful heritage, a great base on guest designer, Alan Peckolick, and his magical posters. which to build. There was just one Herb Lubalin and it is Editorial inevitable that with his passing U&lc will A proposal and program for restructuring graphic arts acquire a new education for the benefit of students, art schools and personality. But the vigor, vitality and value that have the whole communications industry. Page 3. characterized yesterday's U&lc will flourish and grow Pro-File: Seymour Chwast with each of tomorrow's issues under the creative direc- Quiet, quaint, quirky, unquestionably cute, Seymour Chwast (pronounced Quast) is the quintessential com- tion of a new team of editors and designers: municator. Page 4. Ms. Jean Evans A former tennis star swaps her racquet for a lettering EDITOR EDWARD GOTTSCHALL pen and shows us some wonderful strokes. Page 8. EDITORIAL/DESIGN CONSULTANT: LOUIS DORFSMAN Lou Myers: Bombed EDITORIAL/DESIGN CONSULTANT: ALAN PECKOLICK There's something rotten in the state of the world; Lou Myers depicts a few crises. Page 10. ART DIRECTOR BOB FARBER L'Assiette Au Buerre EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: AARON BURNS Steven Heller's treatise on this turn-of-the-century EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EDWARD RONDTHALER French magazine reveals that it was as much concerned with graphics as with political and social satire. Page 12. Putting Your Best Face Forward Each of us has worked closely with Herb and shared A typographer in Brussels demonstrates some salient features of ITC typefaces. Page 17. his love for typography and graphic design, his high Transit Tickets of Yesteryear standards of design and craftsmanship and the feeling The modest fare (as little as 25C for 8 rides) did not that in graphic communications there is room for fun inhibit the graphic pyrotechnics of the designers of and joy and experiment. This spirit will thrive in tomor- these venerable transit tickets. Page 18. Typomorphic Putty row's U&lcs and we trust you will enjoy reading them A reader demonstrates some maneuvers that put a as much as we will enjoy bringing them to you. typehouse in the palm of your hand. Page 20. Crossword Puzzle: It's All Balloony One hundred and five years of unsuccessful attempts at ballooning, should not deter you from chancing this puzzle. Page 22. Wild, Wild East A no-nonsense rodeo world, with buckaroos from no further west than Pennsylvania, described and illus- trated by a born-and-bred New Yorker. Page 24. HERB LUBALIN What's New From ITC MEMORIAL ITC Barcelona, designed by Ed Benguiat, with excellent adaptability for all text material and some distinctive FUND variations in display fonts to give it unusual strength and character for headlines. Page 30. Since Herb Lubalin's death, many letters have been Something From Everybody received at our offices from friends, associates, admirers Two more alphabets from our bottomless bag of mail. Page 34. and readers all over the world, suggesting ways to create Magic Posters a lasting tribute to honor and perpetuate the outstanding Eight brand new poster designs by guest Art Director, contributions which Herb made to the field ofgraphic Alan Peckolick, for some great old magic tricks. Page 36. communications. Vision '80s Update A description of some new electronic systems for pro- The editors of U&lc and Board ofDirectors ofITC wish ducing slides, handling page make-up, mathematical to announce that plans for a Herb Lubalin Fund are now equations and more. Page 74. being formulated and that details will be announced in a This issue of U&Ic was mailed to 165,000 readers: 130,000 future issue of U&lc. in the United States and Canada, and 35,000 abroad. It will be read by approximately 500,000 people. 3
is the time for all good companies and associations to come to the aid of graphic art and design education.
The State College of Art in Massachusetts what to do? might have laser printers and intelligent copier- why? printers. Pratt Institute might feature a word- for a group of schools to sit down BECAUSE clean, effective communications, IT IS TIME processing center. And so forth. internal or external, have a major influence with representatives of business and industry. on the cost effectiveness of a company's op- UNDER SUCH A PLAN the graphic arts indus- erations, on its profits, and even its survival. what schools? try would not be bombarded with so many redundant requests for equipment, mainte- art and design BECAUSE graphic artists and designers play NOT JUST THE WELL-KNOWN nance, supplies, training, etc. a crucial role in making communications no- schools, although they may take the lead. ticed, understood, acted upon. High schools, trade schools, colleges with gra- IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY to build a phic arts/design programs are in the same massive facility with everything under one BECAUSE the new technologies available to boat, and only massive collective action is roof.All the facilities could be linked by a artists and designers are overwhelming in going to accomplish anything in a meaning- telecommunications network. their complexity and sheer numbers. ful time-frame. THERE WOULD BE LESS DOWN-TIME for pre- LETS FACE IT. The best of the typesetters,col- what businesses cious equipment and it might be easier to or scanners and paginators, laser printers, keep key centers stocked with the latest mod- slide-makers, and graphic display terminals and industries? els, since there would be just a few of them are only as good as the people manipulat- and the business world would ease the cost ing them.And therein lies the dilemma. ALL.This is a problem that graphic arts manu- burden for the graphic arts suppliers. facturers cannot—and should not—solve ALL TOO MANY SENIOR ARTISTS and artisans, alone.The entire business community has a WITHIN A GIVEN REGION the schools would who are otherwise skilled, graphically sensi- stake in improved communication effective- establish a schedule for rotating their facul- tive, and creative, are turned off by the new ness. If business and industry provided fund- ties and students through each laboratory, devices instead of being stimulated by them. ing and graphic arts companies provided perhaps for two-week crash programs at a equipment and services at cost, it could work time.The schools could also set up special ALTHOUGH probably more psychologically to the benefit of all concerned. crash hands-on programs for people on receptive to computers, keyboards, lasers, leave from work. and graphic tablets, the younger artists or de- how to do it? signers-to-be, now in high schools, colleges, are we serious? and college-level schools of design, are han- AS THE CLICHES SAY, there are many roads to dicapped because most schools lack both Rome and many ways to skin a cat. But just NOT ABOUT THE SPECIFICS of the plan out- the equipment needed for hands-ontraining to stimulate thinking along constructive lines, lined above. But very serious about an urgent and because their faculties, through no fault consider the following possibility. need for educators and people in industry of their own, need to be trained before they and business to start talking to each other can interest the students. DECENTRALIZED, REGIONAL hands-on labo- right now so that a feasible program can be ratories. For example, in the Northeast, Rhode developed and put into operation before Island School of Design might house an elec- the mid- 80s slip by. tronic scanner/paginator facility. Cooper Union might have a digital typesetting center THIS ARTICLE WAS SET IN ITC NOVARESE 4
play a mandolin every Sunday, for the first Push Pin Almanack, offered a tend to use versions that originally were an hour.I keep practicing but I neve r short course on how history is made: "...we get further than 'Careless Love: „ set in metal-rather than the film alpha- CHRONOLOGY hit on the idea of an almanac — some- bets. It's hard to say why. It may be the I promised not to ask why not. thing with literary content and many facts 1931: born in New York City; studied illustration and graphic , newer versions, having been hand-drawn design at the Cooper Union Art School. so we'd not have to do any writing.We had and photographedwill have an aspect Pipe-smoking, reflective Seymour Chwast a list of names and we felt that words with 1951: was graduated from the Cooper Union. is the mandolin-playing in-house surviv- different from the sculptural quality of 1954: K were funnier than words without K, so type originally cast in metal. co-founded Push Pin Studios— in a "Chinese restaurant ing founding father of the renowned Push we spelled it Almanack. Pushpin had a on Union Square" in NewYork City. Pin Studios, which thrive on an entire funny sound, but we used it in two words "My philosophy is that type works with Has received many awards including, from the Cooper floor in a building downtown from mid- to overcome the prospect of lawsuits from images, lettering doesn't.Whether in typog- Union, the prestigious St. Gaudens medal. town Manhattan.A staff of designers is the pushpin people" raphy or actual lettering, if I'm conscious Is editor, publisher,art director of the "Push Pin Graphic"; working on posters, photographic proj- of the hand behind it, it becomes too close founder and partner of Push Pin Press and of the -candy ects, audio-visual presentations — assign- Bringing Chwast up-to-date: "It's Sey- company, Pushpinoff, to the image I work with; it intrudes. Type Is on the Board of Directors of the American Institute of ments unquestionably more sophisti- mour's misfortune to be working at a time workslype contrasts with drawings or when bad taste is in. Seymour knows only Graphic Arts; visiting professor at the Cooper Union Art cated than the Studio's early mainstay any image. Often, that image is personal, School; member of the Alliance Graphique Intematidnale. of album covers and brochures. how to do things in exquisite taste. He - or free-wheeling, casual. Generally, the Is co-designer and art director of "Audience' a magazine has what few have—personal vision:' Both the conference room and Chwast's type is carefully conceived and much more of the arts,and "Tube' a magazine for children, Several conservative.The combination can create Chwast posters are in the permanent collection of the office are unavailable to us, so we sit in an Another classmate, Milton Glaser, for fif- Museum of Modem Ad, New York City. open area at an unoccupied desk. Chwast, teen years with Chwast co-sponsor of the an elegant cartoon or a witty straight type job. Has participated in major exhibitions and gallery shows: reserved, introspective, wistfully recalls: Push Pin Studios: "Seymour is extremely Aberdeen Art Gallery Scotland; Bergen Kunsfforening, "We were considered far out in the early gifted, with a remarkable range rarely "I've had problems with Helvetica.At a Bergen, Norway; Art Directors Club,Chicago; Art Directors days and were lucky to be able to do inter- found in a single person — a brilliant Club, NewYork; American Institute of Graphic Arts; Con- esting things right at the start.We credit typographer, terrific designer, unique seminar describing problems of designers temporary Arts Museum, Houston,Texas; Corcoran Gallery the promotion we've always been involved illustrator. His great skill is in his use of creating a corporate image using Helvetica, of Art, Washington,D.C.; Brooklyn Museum, New York ('A in— the Push Pin Almanack, and later, the I said the corporate image becomes invisi- Century of American Illustration"); Castello Sforesco, type, combining it with drawings. He's ble because so much Helvetica cancels Milan, Italy; Die Neue Sammlung,Munich,Germany; Galerie Push Pin Graphic. very special. I learned a lot from him in Delpire, Paris, France; Henie-Onstad Museum,Oslo,Norway; identity.11-ue, it looks corporate, but one that area" (When I quoted this to Chwast, CA Gallery, London, England; Jorgensen Gallery,Storrs, "When Ed Sorel and I were working in the corporate look then looks like any other. Connecticut; Kunsterhaus,Vrenna,Austria; Lincoln Center promotion department at Esquire Maga- he smiled at the tribute."Maybe we all learned it all from Jan Tschichold."). That's why so many annual reports are for the Performing Arts Gallery, New York City;,Musee de zine, we wanted a promotion piece for visually boring, although neat. Helvetica L'Affiche, Paris; Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Lausanne, ourselves, for free-lance work.We aimed is a beautiful face, but the notion of using Switzerland; Musee des Arts Decoratifs,Louvre,Paris (a More from Glaser: "Seymour has made a first for an American graphic arts studio.The show traveled for something to amuse art directors, to significant contribution to 20th century it as a universal typeface is scary" suggest continuity, something not to be to cities in Europe, Brazil,Japan); Museum Fur Kunst and design. He continues to be absolutely A relaxed Chwast returns from having Gewerbe,Hamburg,Germany; Museum of Contemporary thrown away. The usual promotion then first-rate" Crafts, New Ydrk City; Museum of Science and Industry, was a blotter which I thought was too dis- answered a phone call, re-lights his pipe, Chicago, Illinois; North Jutland Museum,Aalborg, Den- posable.We decided on an almanac form, The late Herb Lubalin felt Chwast has had settles in for the next question. Designing mark; Palazzo die Comuni,Rome, Italy; Pompideau Center chose the name Push Pin because it was a great effect on the industry from an il- alphabets: "I did a package for Artone Ink • Gallery Pans; Reed House, London; Stedelijk Museum, as quaint as the material we used inside lustrative and graphics standpoint."He using a lowercase 'a' that I felt deserved a Amsterdam, Holland; University of Southem California, fuller life so I turned it into an alphabet. Fullerton,Califomia; Warsaw Poster Museum,Warsaw, as foil for our drawings When the studio was the first to use type with illustration, Poland (one-man show). was formed, the name came along. to sell illustration as the first element in For Mergenthaler, I designed Chwast Buf- design.With his insight into illustrative falo, based on a logo for die French Buffalo "The Push Pin style? Milton Glaser and I BIBLIOGRAPHY styles, Chwast has the major responsibil- Gum. I'm doing variations now, from the tried to define it.We may have brought black version to condensed. Maybe Italic. decorative illustration to a high point, but ity for reviving Art Deco and Art Nouveau" Articles on Seymour Chwast have appeared in: American we did other things — trade marks, book "Often an idea looks terrific in a couple of ArfistAnny, CACree, Gebrauchsgrafik, Graphic The observation of another colleague: letters, but you have difficulty when you Design —Japan,Graphics Today,Graphis,Horizon, Idea, jackets, packages. Most other illustrators "Many top people in the design field are Newsweek,NewYork Times Magazine,PackageDesign,Print aren't interested in 'decorative' illustra- obsessed with their work, have sacrificed try to work out the x's and q's. My solu- tion. Maybe because we've always designed personal relationships. Seymour espe- tion was to design an eccentric alphabet as well as illustrated, the work tended to cially, has devoted himself to his work. He in Art Deco style where each character is be more graphic and could work with may not tell you, but he gets to work at altogether different from the other 25" type.There are different ways of creating 6:30 or 7 AM. I don't know what time he We talk of extended graphic interests be- images. Making drawings is one way. I'm a leaves.The paradox is that he richly de- yond the two-dimensional. I asked about graphic designer, not an illustrator. serves his celebrity, but he's not good at the candy business."It began when Push "Most of our work in advertising has been promoting himself. If he were more flam- Pin created food gifts for clients at Christ- drawings — funny drawings. Our problem boyant, his international reputation would mas. Now, Phyllis Flood and I have 18 dif- with advertising is that we're given a con- be greater" ferent candies selling around the country. What interests me is having control over cept that has already been established, The soft-mannered Chwast of this prodi- and we've little chance to add our thoughts the entire production— concept, name, ious reputation moves easily through design, printing. Berry Nice (fruit flavors), because the client has already seen what the fleet of desks in his offices, stopping the AD has done.What we get is an ap- Love Drops (tiny gum drops), Deco Bits at one to chat, at another to discuss the (hard sesame) are doing well.We're plan- proved sketch. For us, advertising means job. He dresses casually, neatly. His aura is rendering an AD's ideas.What the agency ning candy cigars in, of-course, a cigar quietude. Only his active dark eyes belie box. buys is only a style, and I prefer to tack passivity, suggesting the experience of a my thinking toan assignment:' secret hurt. A question about professional goals was a long thinking-time in being answered. The interviewer's lot is a happy one, but Of his work, this gentle man speaks with not an easy.one, when the interviewee is This man doesn't disclose thoughts casu- the voice of authority On typography: "I'm ally Then: "I'd like to produce a successful reticent Seymour Chwast.The wall of shy- very fussy about type. I make rules for my- ness is surmountable because respectful magazine — a Push Pin Graphic with self and everybody else. On my firstjob at broader content, more ambitious, more colleagues will talk readily of his on-going the Times.promotion department, George achievements as typographer, designer, exciting, making it as meaningful to others illustrator, innovator. Krikorian who was AD, taught me rules as it is to me. about typography. I have no rules for other Now heading his own studio, Reynolds aspects of my work.Typewas designed to "And film is fascinating. Collaboration Ruffin, Cooper Union classmate, one of the be cast and set. Limitations to the use of with animators and directors is very sat- inchoate small group of students who ography were there when the type was isfying. The added element of time and -evolved into the Push Pin -Studios recalls: esigned.You have to respect its limita- motion are perfect tools. It's fun to see my "It started in school. A few of us rented a tions— things you can do, things you can't. work on a little screen.I'd like to have com- studio, called ourselves Design Plus, and plete control over everything, but I can't we were in business losing moneydesign- 'I hate to alter type because it was origi- do everything. I'd love to be able to animate, ing placemats.We all worked together, yet nally designed as separate characters cast but I can't. Generally, I'm asked to contri- none of us could summon up the per- in metal. Each letter has its integrity.You bute my style for commercials. sistent drive Seymour.had. He's the hard- can't treat it as a shape as much as a piece of metal set on.a composing stick. "I'd like to move on to full-length anima- est working person I know He's an incredi- tion. There have been few attempts to ble designer. There's a direct connection Krikorian always used two or three points combine live action with animation. That between what makes him unique as a of leading no matter what the text was. could be exciting. My favorite author is person and what's reflected in his work. elbday, typography is more vigorous. Lead- Nathanael West. It's been my lifelong am- His approach is innovative,always surpris- ing is tighter, letterspacing is tighter; bition to do an animated film of his 'Cool ing, but his statements are so simply made, white space isn't as important as it used Million: Nobody yet has matched my in- you don't realize the genius, the natural to be terest, or come up with the money. " genius, in it:' But I use the same old half-dozen faces for Anybody out there with a cool million for Ed Sorel, he of the monthly page in Esquire, 90% of my work. Cheltenham seems to be 'Cool Million'? another classmate, another designer of good for everything. I use Bodoni Book. I I promised I'd ask. GERTRUDE SNYDER )
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At age 16, she ranked fifth in America's 16-and-under class of tennis players. As an adult, she toured the European ten- nis tournament circuit—even qualified for Wimbledon. A few years ago, she coached the Radcliffe College tennis team, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. tal style, called spontaneous So what's a nice master ten- though it easily takes 60-70 nis player doing in a publica- tries to come up with one ac- tion like this? Jean Evans, as ceptable character. She uses you can see, is a master callig- this Oriental style, too, in her rapher, too. experiments with contempo- From the day she first rary "illuminated" capitals. learned to write script in her Aside from her calligraphic small town grammar school, talents, which have been well she was enamoured of "fancy rewarded in publications and writing." She practiced curli- exhibitions, Ms. Evans is a sci- cues and arabesques on paper entific draftsperson; she as assiduously as she prac- teaches calligraphy in her pri- ticed her backhand on the ten- vate studio, and has written nis court. But she didn't learn and published a number of the meaning of the word works on calligraphy based "calligraphy" until her senior on her exhaustive research year at Queens College, North and inexhaustible knowledge. Carolina,where she got a smat- You may recognize her name tering of exposure with her as the co-author of the article degree in art. on Scriptura which appeared From then on she was ob- in a recent issue of U&lc. sessed with quills, pens and brushes, but she could find no schools, no workshops, no )oodles that evolved into a diary. Numeral designates November. teachers nearby to feed off. Mostly she studied on her own. Her more formal education came in small, intensive doses. She'd travel to a class here... a weekend workshop there... a few lessons from master scribes wherever she could hunt them down—in New York, in England, in Germany, in Switzerland and with two typographers at the Art Insti- tute of Boston, where she now lives and works. Her present work deals with three recurrent themes. She plays with grids, squares and circles, reminiscent of the "cor- rect and divine proportioning" of Roman capitals. She's addict- ed to color and explores its interaction with letter forms. She's intrigued with the Orien- Doodles that evolved into a diary. Numeral designates September. Graphic representation of scat singing done by Louis Armstrong
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Text chosen and designed specifiCally for calligraphic shows 10 11 12
UASSIETTE AU BEURRE BY STEVEN HELLER
butter dish—the nice, fat job with the prerogative of dis- pensing favors for a price.' At this same time Paris was emerging as the art capital of the world. The Belle Epoch was in full swing.Artists were streaming in from all over Europe and membership in the various Salons des Independants was growing rapidly. Many of the socially conscious artists turned toward anarchism—a state of mind free from ideological constraints—as a means to delve beyond the facade of bohemianism and vent their political frustrations.This tradition of anarchy was present among numerous aes- thetic rebels working in the turn-of-the century ateliers. It was thus propitious (since there were more starving artists than outlets to publish their wares) that Samuel Schwarz founded the satiric weekly "L'Assiette au Beurre" in 1901 expressly to visually and emotionally attack those who lived off the fat of the land.The means to this end was accomplished through the talents of an interna- tional group of artists which offered an amalgam of unique styles and points-of-view. Each committed to the repub- lican spirit, albeit with varying intensity. The journal offered a unique opportunity to exhibit biting satires within a virulent, highly innovative artistic vehicle.Its professed mission as the watchdog of societal foibles and moral excesses was successfully carried out for the next twelve years and served not only as a political tool, but also as a springboard shooting many artists into prominence. Art nouveau and caustic satire. EAssiette au Beurre was loosely patterned after Simplicissimus, its Bavarian counterpart.Art nouveau was the predominant mode in both journals—although decorative elements were often overwhelmed by the caustic satiric statements. Classic representational renderings were also effectively em- ployed.Toulouse Lautrec, who offered the stylistic in- spiration for many of the artists, was refused admittance into EAssiette.'s ranks because of his apparent decadence and superficiality EAssiette exemplified the marriage between draftsmanship and conception—no longer was cartooning merely a craft performed by illuminators or second-rate artists (as espoused by some historians of the era). Skimming through bound volumes today one is struck by the aesthetic concerns; mastery of line, the expert
The early nineteenth century was a period of social and graphic commentators. French periodicals of the era rep- Assiette au Beurre political upheaval with significant ideological and indus- resented the state of the graphic arts for the next two dec- trial revolutions in the forefront Nowhere in Europe was ades. However, in 1896 the German satiric weekly, Sim- this furor more pronounced than in post-revolutionary plicissimus, was founded and radically altered the style France. Paris was the capital for believers in and propo- and form of polemical cartooning throughout Europe. nents of Republicanism—aTession complicated by the A time of haves and have-nots. Fin de Siecle Paris eventual restoration of King Louis Phillipe to the throne. was the host for the 1900 World Exposition, a milestone In 1831 this major political setback markedly influ- in France's transition-into an industrial society. France's enced the development of acerbic, satiric commentary economic structure was similar to that in Germany and into-an art form exemplified by the prints of Daumier. England at this time.The distinction between the haves Paris was the hotbed of dissent So, understandably it and have-nots was vivid. France, however, had trailed these was the birthplace for Charles Phillipon's political news- nations in ways to deal with the poor and downtrodden, papers, La Charivari and La Caricature, the most impor- was shockingly primitive, hampered by ineptitude and tant arsenals of satiric weaponry fired against the estab- corruption.Thus it was no surprise that a pronounced lished order. subculture of thieves and prostitutes emerged. In 1848 France experienced another revolution of This state of affairs became a recurring critical theme consequence, the founding of the Second Republic and in popular graphics—a stark reminder of capitalism's in- kindling the spirit of the socialist reform. Shortly there- herent failures.As Ralph Shikes (author of The Indig- after conservatives and reactionaries allowed for the crea- nant Eye) describes it"Daumier's dream of a democratic tion of another empire ruled by Louis Napoleon.After France, responsive to the will and the needs of the people, his defeat by the Prussians in 1871 the Third Republic was still far from fulfillment.The Dreyfus affair seemed was founded and France became a model of liberal law. to end the threat to the Republic by the right wing mili- Press freedom opened the door to an outpouring of tary-church-aristocracy coalition, but the issues of cleri- illustrated magazines concerned with political and social calism and militarism remained.And the state, instead themes (notably Gil Blas, Courrier Francais, Le Pierrot of being an instrument of the people, was a huge, bureau- and Le Rire)—launching the careers of many significant cratic machine dominated byTassiette au beurre'—the 13
use of lights and darks, and the subtlety of composition all in the service of politics.Virtually the entire content ate. au Kull was visual (a small insert with advertisements was in- cluded) with full-page drawings accompanied only by a title and a caption. The quarto size (12Yex 91/2") offered artists the space to breathe, and yet adhere to a format. They were able to experiment with varied media; the woodcut, pen-and-ink and crayon drawing. Often the results were extremely modern: Juan Gris' contributions displayed a concern with geometric forms predating his later cubist work. Felix Vallotton's special issue of original lithographs, "Crime and Punishments," (exquisitely printed for collectors on one side of the page) are exemplary of avant-garde, expressionist approach. Second and third colors were available and effectively used. EAssiette was published weekly, with issues based on single themes which scrutinized specific events or inter- national personalities, as well as all-encompassing issues (such as Kupka's satiric trilogy—"Money,""Peace"and`Reli- gion.") Often a single artist would be responsible for an entire magazine—approximately 16 drawings.Atvarious times a potpourri of contributors would be invited to attack one of the recurring dragons in need of slaying, such as the judicial system, the Catholic church, or the medical profession.The most memorable numbers are those executed by a committed artist on a heartfelt pas- sion or anger: Vadasz on Homosexuality, Veber on Recon- 484 centration Camps in the'll-ansvaal,Juan Gris on Suicides, and Hermann-Paul on Lourdes (the church operated contributor, Aristide Delonnoy, was arrested, sentenced spa), to name but a few. to one year in jail and a fine of 3000 francs, for depicting Equally, there were mild commentaries which nibbled, General d'Amade, occupier of Morocco as a butcher with rather than bit, at the heels of societal absurdities, such blood-stained apron, and later was threatened by the as those on snobs, cafes, sports, high fashion, and auto- authorities when he savagely attacked Briande and mobiles.An enticing number, entitled "Le Lit:devoted to Clemenceau for betraying Republican principals. Simi- the beds and sleeping habits of the various social strata— lar to the so-called morality lobbies of today, minor witch- from the rich to the poor, from those in authority to those hunts were practiced with EAssiette as the target. Often in prison—exemplary of the art of allusion.The reader- these efforts at prior restraint backfired resulting in ship had their favorites too—among those purchased off greater publicity and sales. the newsstands in quantity were the insightful lambast The magazine was undaunted and fought many forms of French doctors (including images which are still gen- of injustice both in France and abroad. EAssiette:s con- erally applicable) and the harsh attack on the excesses of tributors recognized no sacred cows in their editorial Vatican power. 'A Noulespace.f,"a satiric look at the new pasture (with the exception of racism and anti-semitism flying machine sensation by.Albert Guillaume and "Pre-. dictions,"a futuristic view of the comedie humaine by Roubille, are among the most visually handsome num- bers.And an issue devoted to the second coming of Christ into the"modern"world was an inspired idea. The cause: the downtrodden. The audience: the middle class. Although L'Assiette raised pen and brush in support of the downtrodden it was the middle class that was courted as its primary audience. It was purpose- fully priced high by the standards of the day and pro- duced as a coffee table journal. Nevertheless, it was defi- nitely a polemic gazette whose objective was to educate while at the same time serve as a rallying point—a barri- cade of sorts—for those in philosophical combat with the bourgoisie and forces of reaction. By current standards it is difficult to imagine that any cartoonist working in the West could be subject to arrest merely for placing an image on paper, no matter how inflammatory or insulting. Nevertheless, throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the govern- ments of Germany, America and France maintained and enforced strict penalties for libel and sedition. With this in mind EAssiette took many risks by taunting both cen- sor and prefect of police alike. They had their share of numbers banned and confis- cated by the defenders of the status quo. An issue by Ibels entitled "Les Cafes-Concerts"had to be previewed by an ethics committee with each acceptable drawing stamped Vise par Le Censure (passed by the censor).A leading 14
—a common convention for French cartoonists—which were kept at a minimum).With the aid of its Spanish and Portuguese contributors the journal described the tyranny on the Iberian peninsula and the revolution in Portugal. L'Assiette reigned as the visual nemesis of King Edward VII of Britain and it lampooned with great relish Czar Nicholas. Leal Da Camara's exquisite issue, "Les Souvrains,"a series of unofficial portraits of the world's leading mon- archs, is a masterpiece of caricature. England was peri- odically attacked for its heinous and hypocritical foreign policies, especially its involvement in the Boer War. The staff included central-European artists who maintained a watchful eye on workings of the Austro-Hungarian emperor and recorded his yearning for dominance with savage accuracy. At home there was labor unrest and issues devoted to strikes and poor working conditions were numerous. One such number covered the tragic powder-factory explosion at Issy-les Moulineaux with journalistic speed and a humanism to rival Kathe Koll- witz' later work Other major issues included attacks on the Army and Navy as well as a virulent expose of the horrendous milk scandal that shocked Paris.The Catholic church was in disrepute—reminiscent of the passions of the reforma- tion—and the papists were seen in the same dim light as the monarchists. Countless anticlerical cartoons were published—equal in venom to those of Daumier, Nast and Grosz. One such drawing depicts a gargantuan cross as lid for a mass grave, a fitting statement about those reigned supreme. Many of its commentators later relin- describes Alexandre-Theophile Steinlen, Caran D'Ache, in search of ultimate grace. quished their satiric inclinations to become painters of The abusive treatment of blacks in French colonies Albert Robida, Hermann-Paul and Forian as the masters renown: Gris, Felix Vallotton, Kees Van Dongen,Jacques of French satiric and comic arts. Other significant con- was abhorred as was the double standard maintained by Villon, Louis Marcoussis, Frantisek Kupka and J.L. Forian. tributors, lost but not forgotten, include Miklos Vadasz, the Americans in the South and the British in the Islands. Delonnoy's reputation as a painter grew after his death, Dimitrios Galanais,Jules Alexandre Grim, Gustave Henri Decadence and its various manifestations were tackled through a series of posthumous exhibitions. Others went Jossot, Charles Laborde, Ricardo Flores, Maurice Radi- through both scabrous and benign satires: prostitution, into more lucrative areas of graphic art such as poster guet. Granjouan deserves mention, not only as one of the child abuse and crime in the streets were viewed as symp- and book illustration including Leonetto Cappiello, most prolific staffers of tomatic of the uncaring capitalist system. L'Assiette, but also as the idola- Charles-Lucien Leandre, and Leon Adolphe Willette. tor of Isadora Duncan whom he loved and chronicled Among contributors, a common purpose but indi- While some of L'Assiette:s staffers had no other aspira- through his art. vidual styles. Although all of LAssietteS contributors tion than to enjoy prominence in the field of cartooning. adhered to a philosophy of social change, individuality Europe at the turn of the century—before the ravages In his 1890 volume "Nos Humoristes,"Adolphe Brisson of modern war radically changed political and cultural L'Assiette au Beurre Les aourreaux des NoIrs 15
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patterns—was a period when the approaches to art were Lewis and Tom Wicker are respected today. Of most sig- most extreme.The superficiality of the Belle Epoch was nificance, EAssiette was a visual experience, not enslaved pitted against the great compassion for mankind and by verbous texts or constrained by authors and editors L'ASSIETTE AU BEURRE outrage towards inhumanity expressed through paint- afraid that the adage`A picture is worth a thousand words" de- ing and satiric graphic commentary. EAssiette au Beurre may put them out of business. L'Assiette au Beurre BY STEVEN HELLER made an imprint on a generation of concerned individ- rived its success from the wide range of styles and inter- uals and its influence continued after 1912 (journals such ests of its fifty artists, and it continues to be a treasure for students of caricature and satiric drawing—and hope- as Le Mot, edited by Jean Cocteau and Le Temoin edited and chiefly illustrated by Paul Iribe temporarily con- fully to editors and publishers as well—because it testi- fies to the potency of well articulated political art and tinued the tradition). Germany's EAssiette was the wellspring of critical graphic journal- social satire. (next issue: Simplicissimus: ism, accepted as seriously then as columnists Anthony Most Influential Satire Magazine.) L'Assiette au Beurre L'Assiette au Beurre L'Assiette au Beurre tVE. DES coNr VISIONS!