Comments on: Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock

Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock

OmieWise — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:27:15 -0800

Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock, an LOC exhibition. From 1950s plutocrats to 1970s ethics scandals, and up to the ideal American Flag of the religious Right, Block captured complex issues in just one frame. His drawings about government limitations of civil liberties seem particularly prescient.

By: zennie

zennie — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:42:53 -0800

Wow. Thanks, OmieWise.

By: MrMoonPie

MrMoonPie — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:53:50 -0800

If anyone wants to see the physical exhibit, I'll join you (and I hear there's a guy there who'll give us a really cool tour of the building).

By: interrobang

interrobang — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:55:58 -0800

Great post, OmieWise. Thanks.

By: grabbingsand

grabbingsand — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 11:57:52 -0800

Wow, again. "Explain slowly--what does he need all those weapons for, and why does he need nuclear reactors?"

By: QuietDesperation

QuietDesperation — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:03:08 -0800

A great American. If you can find a copy of Herblock's Here and Now (Simon & Schuster, 1955), it's a wonderful time capsule of his career. As I recall, Nixon was particularly irked at the way Herblock portrayed him with a permanent 5-o'clock shadow.

By: birdhaus

birdhaus — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:12:09 -0800

Herblock was one of the best---if not THE best---editorial cartoonists of the 20th Century. I wonder if his old employer, the Washington Post, would even publish him now under their much more risk-adverse current management. I have heard that he actually emphasized the 5 o'clock shadow more when he heard that it pissed Tricky Dick off. I own a signed copy of Here and Now, which I value highly.

By: chicobangs

chicobangs — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:21:33 -0800

Amazing stuff. There are some editorial cartoonists today who have his nerve, but very few have his touch as well. He was a gorgeous artist as well as an insightful (and inciteful) commentator. Yeah, thanks for this.

By: teleri025

teleri025 — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:29:16 -0800

Great post. Further proof that history is a very cyclical thing.

By: exogenous

exogenous — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:37:26 -0800

My faith in this country is bolstered by the fact that the Library of Congress (an arm of The Man!) is exhibiting these.

By: adamrice

adamrice — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:49:08 -0800

Wow. Plus ça change...

By: matteo

matteo — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:28:26 -0800

I am the proud owner of a signed Herblock book -- it's among my most prized possessions. what a man. thanks for the post, Omie

By: Pallas Athena

Pallas Athena — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:29:09 -0800

Herblock was a genius, and a really lovely guy. It's great to see some of his work again. I'll definitely be stopping into the LOC when I'm next in DC.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:05:00 -0800

I had the great honor of meeting Herblock when I attended a Rueben award dinner back around '85 or so. Literally shaking hands with a hero of mine. Thanks for the great post!

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 12:11:01 -0800

Once Nixon was elected President, Herblock's first cartoon was a barber's chair, offering him a free shave. A clean slate, so to speak, which Nixon didn't waste much time in dirtying up. Also, Herblock was arguably the inventor of the term "McCarthyism." Great cartoonist, great American. Thanks, OmieWise.

By: Pollomacho

Pollomacho — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 00:25:36 -0800

His drawings about government limitations of civil liberties seem particularly prescient. When it's the same cast of characters up to their same "dirty tricks" is it really prescient? Great stuff!

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:40:33 -0800

Good point!