Vaughn Shoemaker (American, 1902-1992) Getting C

Vaughn Shoemaker (American, 1902-1992) Getting Closer, Chicago Daily News newspaper cartoon, February 1939 India ink, lithographic crayon, and gouache on heavyweight paper 12-1/2 x 11-1/4 inches (31.8 x 28.6 cm) (image) Signed and inscribed lower right: Shoemaker —Chicago Daily News— Editorial cartoonist Vaughn Richard Shoemaker won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning twice, in 1938 and 1947. He joined the staff of the Chicago Daily News in 1922 and by 1925 was the paper's lead cartoonist, a position he held until 1952. He created the beleaguered American taxpayer known as "John Q. Public." After 30 years at the Chicago Daily News he moved to the Chicago Tribune. His cartoons were syndicated nationwide. This original, titled Getting Closer, was published February 1939 in the Chicago Daily News newspaper and many other papers to which Showmaker's work was syndicated. One would not normally think of the President as a six-gun toting cowboy, but the imagery works well for this message. By early 1939 FDR had appointed three new justices to the Supreme Court: Hugo Black (1937), Stanley Forman Reed (1938), and Felix Frankfurter (1939). Each was progressively more liberal and amenable to uphold New Deal and other legislation, some of which had been struck down by earlier court rulings. The President was obviously pleased. This original was inscribed and signed at the bottom by the artist: "with Best Wishes Shoemaker." The name of the person to which the inscription was dedicated has been scratched out. Included is the printed version of this original clipped from the Chicago Daily News. HID03101062020 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Condition
Toning to sheet. Very light handling creases, visible under raking light along extreme edges. A few scattered pin points of surface dirt to areas of negative space. Faint stain at right extreme edge near figure's back, not affecting figure. Wear and markings to margins of page in keeping with illustration and publishing process. Not framed.
Sheet overall: 16 x 12 inches
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