THEODOR SEUSS (DR. SEUSS) GEISEL (American 1904 - 1991) . The Tiller of the Soil, 1942 . Ink on paper . 20 x 19in. . Si...

Description

THEODOR SEUSS (DR. SEUSS) GEISEL (American 1904 - 1991)
The Tiller of the Soil, 1942
Ink on paper
20 x 19in.
Signed lower right
Original newspaper editorial cartoon illustration for PM, August 3, 1942

This hard-hitting editorial cartoon, a landmark piece from the World War II era, appeared in the New York newspaper PM. Dr. Seuss turned his withering wit on the Fuehrer himself, Adolf Hitler. On his web page, media historian Philip Nel (Harold, Barnaby, and Dave: A Biography of Crockett Johnson) offers these insights into PM and Dr. Seuss' participation, "Whether PM stood for 'P. M.' (it was ostensibly an afternoon paper, though its first editions came out in the A. M.) or 'Picture Magazine' (it pioneered the use of photographs to convey information) no one knows for sure. Ralph Ingersoll, former editor for The New Yorker , Fortune, and Time, founded PM as an alternative to the generally conservative New York newspapers. PM was proudly anti-Poll Tax, anti-Fascist, and a supporter of Roosevelt. Published on June 18, 1940, PM's first issue expressed his goals most succinctly: 'PM is against people who push other people around; PM accepts no advertising; PM belongs to no political party; PM is absolutely free and uncensored; PM's sole source of income is its readers, to whom it alone is responsible; PM is one newspaper that can and dares to tell the truth.' PM's bold mission attracted some of the best photojournalists, writers, and artists, including the left-leaning journalist I. F. Stone, novelists Ernest Hemingway and Erskine Caldwell, future Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, photographers Margaret Bourke-White and Arthur Fellig (better known as 'Weegee'), cartoonist Carl Rose, and Dr. Seuss. In 1941, Dr. Seuss was concerned about the rapidly expanding world war: though a majority of Americans opposed intervention in what they considered a foreign war, Seuss was not only in favor of aiding Britain, but saw that war with Nazi Germany would be inevitable. At first unable to find a newspaper to publish his political advice, he met up with an old friend who happened to be working for PM. It proved to be the perfect paper in which to air his views, for not only did PM favor American intervention, it seemed to relish controversy. From April 1941 to January 1943, Seuss contributed cartoons." Richard H. Minear, author of Dr. Seuss Goes to War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodor Seuss Geisel has noted, "Hitler is the prime subject of all of Dr. Seuss's World War II cartoons. Without him, Dr. Seuss might well have remained a successful commercial artist with a sideline in children's literature." Don't miss out on your opportunity to win this milestone in anti-Nazi editorial cartooning by Dr. Seuss.

This piece has been framed with the printed PM page displayed (under glass) on the back side of the frame

More information about DR. SEUSS. See also: Geisel, Theodor Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel, Dr. Seuss, Seuss Geisel, Theodor Artist.

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