Noted photographer Alen MacWeeney transforms cartoonists into works of art through stunning, primarily black-and-white portraits in At Wit's End: Cartoonists of the New Yorker. MacWeeney, whose work is exhibited at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, captures his subjects drawing as well as in a spirited array of settings and circumstances. For instance, Gahan Wilson receives a haircut, John O'Brien poses in a shower, and Victor Varnado clutches a rack of eyeglasses.
The book, created in anticipation of the magazine's 100-year anniversary in 2025, features cartoonists living and dead, including legends such as George Booth along with newer folks such as Ellie Black. Michael Maslin, an expert on New Yorker cartoonists (and a cartoonist himself), provides the text accompanying the images.
An ideal coffee-table book for cartoon enthusiasts, At Wit's End contains four pages per cartoonist, generally comprising two portraits, two cartoons, and some words about the artist. Maslin, tapping his extensive knowledge, offers context by exploring the subject's cartooning lineage and interviewing some of the subjects. In some instances, he pulls from podcasts or interviews featuring the subject. Maslin also often includes personal details, such as how he first met or came across certain cartoonists. About Lars Kenseth, whom he met at New Yorker editor David Remnick's apartment, he writes, "He seemed to be having the time of his life, outwardly happier than anyone in the room. This is how I feel about his cartoon characters: they seem to be having a blast." --Nina Semczuk, writer, editor, and illustrator