The Art of William Steig

by Claudia J. Nahson

 

Known for his brilliant cartoons and award-winning childrenÆs books, William Steig (1907û2003) leaves a legacy that spans much of the 20th century. This lavishly illustrated book features over 280 of SteigÆs drawings, many of them previously unpublished, and examines every aspect of his work, from the ôSmall Fryö cartoonsùhis earliest submissions to The New Yorkerù and haunting symbolic drawings of the late 1930s and 1940s, to his later, bitingly funny cartoons and celebrated books for children. In the 73 years that Steig worked for The New Yorker, the magazine published over 120 of his covers and more than 1,600 of his drawings in a wide range of styles, including classic cartoons, psychologically fraught pen-and-ink renderings and Picasso-esque representations. He brought a new voice to the magazine by creating cartoons that drew on his experience as a son of immigrant Eastern European Jews.

 

In his 60s, Steig embarked on a second career as a writer and illustrator of childrenÆs books, including Sylvester and the Magic Pebble and Shrek! The story of SteigÆs work is told by Claudia J. Nahson and the cartoonistÆs fellow artists and writers, in addition to his family members. Together, they create a portrait of a penetrating social observer with a restless imagination and a love of his craft.

 

Hardcover