Absolut New Yorker Cartoonists

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the memorable Absolut Vodka Cartoon Contest in the New Yorker. Since the early 1980's, countless talented artists have contributed to a series of remarkable ads for this campaign. In 1991, New Yorker readers were offered the chance to appear in an Absolut advertisement to be published in the magazine. All they had to do was create a New Yorker-style cartoon—and win the contest.

Unlike today's caption contest, entrants were called upon to conceive the drawing as well as the concept, which might or might not include a caption. As a guide to how this could be approached, no fewer than ten New Yorker cartoonists each created a full page advertisement for the campaign. They all appeared together in the June 10, 1991 issue along with the contest announcement, the rules, and a tantalizingly blank page labeled Absolut Cartoon.

"Appearances seem to indicate that they were quite civilized." Absolut Weber. Robert Weber,The New Yorker, June 10, 1991, page 51 http://archives.newyorker.com/?i=1991-06-10#folio=050

"Absolut Janie, Absolut Herb." Absolut Chast.                                                  Absolut Hamilton. Roz Chast                                                            William Hamilton

Absolut Quandary                                                            "Absolut sublime." Absolut Roberts.                                                            Absolut Koren. Victoria Roberts                                                            Edward Koren

"Now that's an Absolut monarch!"                       "I'm pleased to report that both East and West   are in full agreement on all issues."                 Absolut Lorenz.                                                          Absolut Richter. Lee Lorenz                                                            Mischa Richter

"I came. I saw. I had the Absolute on the rocks"                                                                        Absolut Ziegler.                                                       Absolut Shanahan. Jack Ziegler                                                             Danny Shanahan

See Your Absolut Vodka Cartoon in the New Yorker                                                                                                                                                      Absolut Cartoon.

"O.K., C.S., are you ready to deal big-time?" Absolut Barsotti. Charles Barsotti

Last year, six of the ten works of original art from this campaign were sold on eBay.


Absolut Weber:









After the sale, two fascinating details showing white-out and corrections appeared on David Apatoff's Illustration Art blog:

Detail http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/2015/02/removing-appearance-of-labor.html

Detail http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/2015/02/removing-appearance-of-labor.html

EBay Listing Ended November 5, 2014 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Robert-Weber-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221589756980?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item3397c75c34&nma=true&si=MY%252BVlM1DDf4MNMNGGnCdh3m%252FHQQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Absolut Ziegler:

Jack Ziegler's signature

EBay Listing Ended May 23, 2014 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jack-Ziegler-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/301163066470?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item461eb7b466&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

EBay Listing Ended December 25, 2014 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jack-Ziegler-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221627169607?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item339a023b47&nma=true&si=MY%252BVlM1DDf4MNMNGGnCdh3m%252FHQQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jack-Ziegler-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/301163066470?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item461eb7b466&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Sold!

Absolut Lorenz:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Lorenz-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221407635311?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item338cec676f&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lee-Lorenz-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221407635311?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item338cec676f&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Absolut Barsotti:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charles-Barsotti-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221407635315?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item338cec6773&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charles-Barsotti-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221407635315?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item338cec6773&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Absolut Chast:

Rob Chast's signature

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roz-Chast-New-Yorker-Magazine-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/301141938952?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item461d755308&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roz-Chast-New-Yorker-Magazine-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/301141938952?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item461d755308&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Absolut Koren:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Edward-Koren-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221407635314?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item338cec6772&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Edward-Koren-New-Yorker-Mag-Cartoonist-Published-Original-Absolut-Vodka-Ad-/221407635314?pt=Art_Paintings&hash=item338cec6772&nma=true&si=UB68sj2DvLx%252F9kdb54zXrlCgzYs%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Note: Well, that should do it for today. The aqua links below lead to further bloggery on these artists. Cheers!