Stolzer, Rob :: Webster, H.T.

Rare H.T. Webster WWI Editorial Cartoon - Features William Randolph Hearst - LIFE Magazine

Artist: H.T. Webster (All)

2 Comments - 209 Views - 0 Like

Rare H.T. Webster WWI Editorial Cartoon - Features William Randolph Hearst - LIFE Magazine Comic Art

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Printed Cartoon From LIFE Magazine

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H.T. Webster - The Timid Soul! 1937

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H.T. Webster - Life's Darkest Moment Panel - 1928 - Amelia Earhart Related

Artwork Details

Title:	Rare H.T. Webster WWI Editorial Cartoon - Features William Randolph Hearst - LIFE Magazine
Artist:	H.T. Webster (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Comic Strip
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	209
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	6/7/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Much of the comic art that's most appealing to me is the work that reflects the time in which it was created. Such is the case with this uncommon or rare H.T. Webster cartoon. Webster, as comic strip buffs know, is most well known for his creation of Casper Milquetoast, AKA the Timid Soul. But Webster was also quite well known for his wonderful bridge-related cartoons (the card game, not the structure that got Chris Christie into trouble).

When this cartoon first showed up at auction, I was immediately drawn to the content, since William Randolph Hearst is such an important figure in the comic strip world. But I could not, for the life (unintentional pun, but we'll go with it), determine where it was published. I went through weeks of Webster's newspaper (The Herald and the The Tribune, before they merged). Nada. I tried a variety of searches. Nada 2.0. But finally, while searching one of the archives sites, I hit it. The piece did not appear in a newspaper, but in LIFE magazine, or October 17, 1918.

I don't recall seeing many, if any Webster editorial cartoons, and this one pulls no punches. The captions, "The Problem of Changing From a Deep Yellow to Red, White and Blue" refers to the perception of Hearst as participating in "yellow journalism". He was also seen as something of an isolationist before the USA entered WWI, hence the change from yellow to red, white and blue. I was not aware of bans of Hearst papers at the time, but a bit of research turns up some interesting stories about those bans.

Comic art and history together again!

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About the Owner

	Rob Stolzer Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	September 2004
Last Login:	September 2025
Ebay Id:	robart
Website:	https://freeassociationfunnies.com/
Country:	UNITED STATES
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Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 6/7/2023

The whole thing smells of rotten egg as shown at the bottom of the piece. Hearst was definitely a shaper of public opinion through the power of media sometimes creating war and sometimes calling for restraint. For what reasons? Obviously, whatever benefitted his own interests. Not surprising that there would be rivals that go after him. Timeless parallels to our today.

Dwayne Dush
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 6/9/2023

I too love the history found within. And the quality of art here is top notch. But I'm MOST impressed with your diligence in tracking down where it was used. Great piece and notes to go with it. Thanks for sharing!

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