1942.07.20 “Problem”
by Ralph Lee (1906-1947)
23 x 14 in., ink on board
Coppola Collection
Ralph Lee was an editorial cartoonist for the Portland Oregonian. He died suddenly, at 41, in January 1947. His cousin, Art Bimrose, was the editorial cartoonist for the Oregonian for more than three decades. In 1937, the Oregonian hired him part-time to work on printing plates. Following Lee’s death, Bimrose was hired as the Sunday editorial cartoonist.
Pressure to open a second front was an ongoing concern. There was an active, escalating war in Europe, and from the east, Russia is calling “Hurry that second front and keep sending supplies!” … But “Yes, but which?” captures the issue: you can’t do everything at once.
The German offensive (Case Blue) was underway for a month, and on July 23-24, the German forces captured Rostov and forced a retreat of the Soviet army.
