Patoruzú No.192 1941 Patoruzu #192 León Poch (1913-2005) Golden Age of Comics Argentina

Wow! Wow! Wowzers! This is the Golden age comic Cover to Patoruzú No.192 from 1941, this is over 81 years old, Before World War II. The Goden age cover was painted by León Poch (1913-2005) Golden Age of Comics illustrator from Argentina. He was born in Sosnowiecz (Poland) in 1913, but he maintains that his life began in Buenos Aires, in 1928, when he arrived in this city. He graduated with honors in 1936, from the National School of Fine Arts, where he was a disciple of Pio Collivadino.

As a cartoonist for the newspaper "Crítica", from 1934 to 1938, he participated in the most important journalistic adventure in the country. Much more extensive was his activity as a humorist in the magazine "Patoruzú" for more than 40 years (1936-1977), in a page entitled "Temas Porteños", he delved with humor and love into the depths of daily life in Buenos Aires and in the psychology of its inhabitants. He painted the new faces of Israel (1950);The golden age of theater in Yiddish in Argentina featured its sets for works staged by directors and actors of the stature of Maurice Schwartz, Yaacov Ben-Ami, Joseph Buloff and David Licht, among others.

There are numerous Jewish institutions for which he made murals and tapestries. His creativity was also highlighted in the field of advertising, graphics and the design of book covers by Argentine and Jewish authors, as well as magazines, including "La Luz", "Alef" and "Raíces".

For his outstanding career as a cartoonist, painter and humorist, the Government of the City of Buenos Aires paid him Tribute in November 1999.

His last exhibition took place at the Centro Cultural Recoleta, Espacio Historieta, where he exhibited a selection of “Temas Porteños”, in March 2001.

AMIA's Editorial Milá published, in 2003, his book "Casos y Cosas Judías", a magnificent work of research and drawing on curiosities and little-known aspects of the history and traditions of the Jewish people.

León Poch passed away in Buenos Aires on June 27, 2005. Updating the life and work of this multifaceted artist is a privilege for me, his daughter. And for him, a just recognition.

Susana Poch