Hy Mayer - Ink & Watercolor Cartoon

Hy Mayer (1868-1954)was a German-born cartoonist who spent the majority of his career working for the top publications in the United States. Mayer was a political cartoonist for the New York Times starting in 1904, and became the chief cartoonist for Puck magazine in 1914. Starting in 1909, Mayer began working in the burgeoning animation field and wound up directing over 100 short films.

This wonderful piece, drawn in the Simplicissimus style, was done for a young girl. The German has mystified me for years, but thanks to some Comicart-L members, I now have a translation:

It is true there are no children anymore,
I´m saying it and forgive me;
now I´m adding myself
with the grandmother it´s over too!

While the verse is odd, the drawing is quite lovely.