Cartoon -- "Miss Mammoth, allow me to introduce Mr. Plesiosaurus..."

Sullivant, T. S. (1854-1926)

1912-03-28

American wit and humor, Pictorial.

Caricatures and cartoons.

Periodicals -- Illustrations.

Most issues of Life had a theme that was introduced by the cover and reflected throughout the issue. The theme of this was the "Coward's number."

Thomas Sterling Sullivant was born in Columbus, Ohio. He may have studied art in Germany, where he lived for several years. He returned to the United States in 1885 and moved to Philadelphia where he studied at the Philadelphia Academy of Art with Thomas Eakins. In 1886, he sold his first cartoon. He soon was appearing in a number of periodicals, including Life. He continued to study with various artists, such as Edward Moran and E. D. Bensell. He utilized a pen and ink style that was meticulously cross-hatched, which was popular at the time. His cartoons were masterfully distorted figures of animals and stereotypical people referred to as “grotesque yet believable.” He also worked for a number of other periodicals and for William Randolph Hearst, but returned to Life in 1911 and contributed cartoons until his death in 1926. He is considered to be one of the most influential cartoonists of his time.

Half page cartoon. Sullivant was including cavemen and prehistoric animals in his cartoons during this time period.

Volume 59, issue 1535, page 656.

Scholars wishing to cite this item should include item title, volume and issue, Life, New York, N.Y: Life, date, Jen Library Archives and Special Collections periodical collection, the Savannah College of Art and Design, and the item's url.

Life, New York, NY: Life, 1883-1936

Image

Illustration

9 1/2 x 11 inches

Print on paper

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