Bill Mauldin - WWII Cartoon - 45th Division - 1944 News
Artist: Bill Mauldin (All)
5 Comments - 12,955 Views - 3 Likes
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Bill Mauldin - Printed Image from the 45th Division News
Bill Mauldin - WWII Cartoon - 45th Division News - Back
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThis rare Bill Mauldin WWII cartoon is one of the last ones that he drew for the 45th Division News. Dated January 8, 1944, the cartoon features Willie (of Willie and Joe fame) talking to an Army Air Force corporal, saying: "Wot's your job - steady K.P.?", referring to the corporal's weight.At the time Mauldin drew this piece, he was already drawing for Stars and Stripes. He would only draw three more pieces for 45th Division News before devoting himself full-time to Stars and Stripes. This was a period of tremendous artistic growth for the 23 year old Mauldin, as he bounced between working in pen & ink, and brush & ink. This cartoon is drawn entirely in pen & ink, and you can see the wonderful looseness he was able to achieve in the shadows, forming some nice areas of mass. His work in Stars and Stripes, from around the same period, shows Mauldin's maturation with the brush. Within the following year, he was really hitting his stride, creating the Up Front cartoons that he is most well known for. Illustrator Ed Vebell, the head of the Stars and Stripes Mediterranean office at the time, claims to have told Mauldin to switch to the brush for good. It turns out to have been great advice. While this piece doe does not contain the poignant sort of content found in some of the later cartoons featuring Willie and Joe, and originals from the 45th Division News are incredibly scarce. The other scan in this gallery shows the back of the illustration board, with Mauldin's Stars and Stripes mailing address in the States. 2/1/13 Update: I've just discovered that this cartoon was also printed in Mauldin's 1944 book, "Mud, Mules, and Mountains". The book features a wonderful introduction by Ernie Pyle, who was killed in combat the following year. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Alex Johnson 
Member Since 2006
Forum Moderator
Posted on 4/23/2011
Congratulations! This is a terrific find. That man really had and eye for his subjects and the skill to get it on paper.
robert wiener
Member Since 2005
Posted on 4/24/2011
Very nice. You have an ability to locate difficult to find great art.
Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004
Posted on 4/25/2011
Fantastic piece. Another gem in your already gem filled collection.
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