Here's a fabulous piece of humor by the legendary New Yorker cartoonist, Helen Hokinson, likely captioned with the assistance of professional gag-writer James Reid Parker. Back in the 1930s, operatic tenor Giovanni Martinelli reigned supreme over the Metropolitan Opera in New York City but also had a reputation as a bit of a playboy. In this piece, one of Hokinson's famous matronly ladies explains to another, "Now she sings an aria about how she will give up her virtue to save Martinelli."
A wonderful bit of opera gossip for the enthusiast as well as a prime example of Hokinson's fashion-forward cartoon style--and nearly 100 years old to boot! Published in The New Yorker on December 31, 1932.
Ink and ink wash on medium-weight watercolor paper which has been glued to heavy cardboard measuring 15.5" x 19". The top inch or so of the cardboard contains dried glue remnants. Discoloration between the outer edge of the paper and the central image suggests that it sat framed under a mat for several years. The paper itself is fairly brittle, with cracking along the edges. Singed in ink by Helen Hokinson in the lower right corner of the image. A handwritten caption appears in pencil below the cartoon which varies slightly from the actual published caption, referenced above. It is not known whether this was penned by Hokinson herself, but the handwriting looks similar. The central cartoon image measures 12" x 15.5". Discolored newspaper is affixed to the reverse side of the cardboard. Overall, good condition.
