Ed Wynn and Richard B. Harrison 1930

Ralph Barton made this image of Ed Wynn and Richard B. Harrison probably in the 1920s or 30s, using ink and wash on paper. Can you imagine Barton, hunched over a desk, peering at photos of these well known theatrical figures, and conjuring their likenesses with thin dark lines? Barton was known for his caricatures, and this drawing is full of wit. The men are instantly recognizable, but slightly distorted: Wynn is elongated and Harrison’s features are broadened. The simplicity of the composition, using delicate washes, gives the image clarity. This reminds me of the drawings of Matisse, who used a similar economy of line to capture the essence of his subjects. I see a conversation happening between these two artists from different eras. Barton would have been in dialogue with other cartoonists of the day – such as Miguel Covarrubias, who used caricature in such beautiful and striking ways. Every artist is influenced and inspired by what has gone before. Art is all about conversations, across time and space!