Idea Art Comprehensive Portfolio Basic, First Edition (1 results)

Condition: Near Fine. Humorous cartoon artwork being marketed to businesses to use in their catalogues, promotions and other literature. Surprisingly scarce -- no copies found on OCLC nor in commerce on the date of this description. However, some of the cartoons we have seen in the publications of various businesses from the era, and this publication explains to us how smaller businesses might have arranged for artwork that might have been expensive to commission for themselves when their line of business had nothing to do with the production of such artwork. 4to. 29 by 24.5 cm. 82 numbered leaves, each with a glossy coating, printing entirely on rectos. Of these, 78 are illustrations, one per page, and each accompanied by small print of what meant to be, we believe, proposals for possible captions. These are short and snappy, and there can be just a few of these one liners to over a dozen. The illustrations are varied-- clowns, a fire engine, a page boy, cowboys, lovers, doctors, nurses, etc. The consistent strain is the levity, sometimes slightly risque, and the economy by which the caricature art was achieved. Also much of the humor relates to the trials and liberation of the average Joe, the little people, the cogs in corporate life, etc. No artists are credited, but the artwork is very much of its time, and we wouldn't be surprised if some well-known cartoon artists, and even artists not associated with cartoons, did some of these on a freelance, ghost basis. Light wear to leatherette, occasional minor soiling to leaves. Looseleaf binding. Limp leatherette cover. Many metal rings.