355) Whitney Darrow Jr….
Original Cartoon Art by Whitney Darrow Jr. date unknown
Whitney Darrow Jr. (1909-1999) was an American cartoonist and illustrator. He attended Princeton University and graduated in 1931. During his time at Princeton, he contributed artwork to the humor magazine, the Princeton Tiger, and this early experience likely influenced his later career as a cartoonist. After graduating from Princeton, Darrow moved to New York City where he studied at the Art Students League of New York and the National Academy of Design before beginning his career at The New Yorker. His first cartoon was published in The New Yorker in 1933, and he went on to have more than 1,500 of his cartoons published in the magazine over the next six decades.
Darrow's cartoons were often humorous and satirical, capturing various aspects of contemporary life with a unique wit and style. He became renowned for his clever and incisive social commentary through his illustrations. His work often satirized social trends and human behavior.
In addition to his work for The New Yorker, Darrow also published several books of cartoons and illustrated a number of children’s books. Despite his prolific output, Darrow often said that he found cartooning to be a difficult and painstaking process.
Whitney Darrow Jr. and his wife, Middy Darrow, lived together in Burlington, Vermont for a large portion of their life. They had two children. Middy Darrow, who passed away in 2009, was well known for her contributions to the local community, including work with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and the Visiting Nurse Association. Their relationship and her support undoubtedly played a significant role in Darrow's life and career.
Darrow work left a lasting impact on the world of cartooning and is remembered as an essential part of The New Yorker's history. Darrow passed away in 1999, but his work continues to be appreciated for its sharp wit and keen observation of human nature.
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