Puncture wounds

herblock1.jpgThe National Portrait Gallery in Washington has a new exhibit of editorial cartoonist Herblock’s cartoons. It’s entitled “Herblock’s Presidents: ‘Puncturing Pomposity,’” and it covers no fewer than than 11 American commanders in chief. Corresponding with the exhibit is an online presentation of “The Dean of American Editorial Cartoonists” works. Anyone interested in political satire should take a minute to view this fun site. Herblock, as Herbert Block signed his cartoons, won three Pulitzers, cartooned for The Washington Post for more than seven decades and, most impressively, ranked a listing on President Nixon’s infamous “enemies list.” When viewing the cartoons on the Web site, you can click on an area of the drawing for an extreme close-up and see the blue pencil lines and the corrections — the next best thing to watching Herblock as he actually drew it. It’s a window into a master’s creative process. The pompous rest a little more peacefully now that this great cartoonist is at rest himself. Thanks for puncturing them for all those years, Herb.

5 Comments

  1. Regular
    Posted May 8, 2008 at 3:47 pm | Permalink

    :(

  2. JWink
    Posted May 8, 2008 at 4:04 pm | Permalink

    I wonder if Herb Block was related to Henry Block, founder of H&R Block, the tax company headquartered in Kansas City?

    Anyway, the Herblock cartoon story reminds me there are geniuses among us, those who seem to float up to their highest potential somehow.

    Interesting portrayal of Kansas favorite son, Dwight Eisenhower. Is he relating Eisenhower to an Egyptian pharoah?

    Wonder if he portrayed President Truman? Seems like he did and an enlarged copy or even the original might be displayed in the Truman Library.

    Anyway, thanks Mr. Herb “Herblock” Block for your fascinating contribution to the American epic.

  3. ksgrm
    Posted May 8, 2008 at 5:57 pm | Permalink

    One of the most even handed political satirist I have ever seen. Hope to get to DC in time to see it in person before it is taken out.

  4. Rage
    Posted May 8, 2008 at 6:22 pm | Permalink

    One of the most memorable Herblock cartoons: Reagan sterly facing down a little girl, stating “You don’t look truly needy to me!”

  5. StevenEDavis
    Posted May 8, 2008 at 11:00 pm | Permalink

    “Rage
    “Posted May 8, 2008 at 6:22 pm | Permalink
    “One of the most memorable Herblock cartoons: Reagan sterly facing down a little girl, stating ‘You don’t look truly needy to me!’”

    I loved that term “truly needy” – a friend and I had ideas on what a “truly needy” cartoon character would look like. Ketchup was the only vegetable that person could eat. :)