You say Steinberg, I say Steinway...

Saul Steinberg - various drawings

I was very excited when I got to design a jazz inspired invitation last week. My client had requested a moody image featuring a pianist. Later, just as I was knee deep in atmospheric, smoky shots of jazz musicians and blue note covers they decided to change tack and use a line drawing, suggesting maybe a Steinberg? and I scoffed, don't you mean "Steinway"?...No! they meant the famous, and very cool illustrator Saul Steinberg. (Incidentally the Steinway piano brand started out as Steinweg...just to confuse us even further).

A quick google search revealed one of those artists that some how seeps into your brain without you even knowing it. I was immediately reminded of the doodles my Dad loves to do of men with strange shaped heads. And, in particular I remembered the electrifying day when he drew a moustache and glasses, in blue biro, directly onto my three year old sister's face. You know the type of moustache and glasses you draw on po-faced politicians, or glamorous women in the Sunday newspapers. I remember feeling terrified but thrilled at the possibility that maybe he had made a terrible error of judgement. Kate seemed to enjoy it at the time, but I think it was one of those seminal moments in her life which eventually led her down the path of makeup artistry. My mother was not present for this particular moment of madness, you only have to turn your back for one minute, and before you know it your toddler has an avant-garde tattoo of a moustache and glasses on their face...

Saul Steinberg 1944 - Kate's Revenge?

I couldn't find a Steinberg piano player (although I'm sure he must have drawn one at least once!), so here's my attempt. Not a patch on the real thing, but if you squint your eyes and look from a distance it might fool you for a second. It turns out it's really hard to achieve a fluid, spontaneous, minimalist drawing, that at first glance appears quite naive, but on closer inspection reveals that it was actually informed by years of studying and observing form, shape, line and human nuance. Who'd have thunk it!

Jazz Pianist, after Steinberg

Among other things, Steinberg was famous for his illustrations in the New Yorker. I have acquired a quantity of old New Yorkers from the late 40s, which I am going through at the moment. They are fit to bursting with wonderful illustrations and cartoons by various artists. I will post them here soon.

For more information on Saul Steinberg visit this site:
http://www.saulsteinbergfoundation.org/life_work.html