A Shermund Sampler

A portrait of illustrator Barbara Shermund in a fur coat, outside. Sepia tone, vintage photograph. — Barbara Shermund

Several words come to mind when describing the work and life of Barbara Shermund: Feminist. Bohemian, Intelligent, Talented. Mystery.

A feminist because Shermund was a woman cartoonist when they were scarce, especially at Esquire Magazine in the thirties. And her ladies weren’t dumb. Although she drew the typical showgirls, harassed secretaries and showgirls, she portrayed them as independent women in charge of their own lives.

Harold Ross at The New Yorker recognized her talent in the early days of the magazine’s founding. She contributed a few paintings for the magazine’s cover, then began submitting cartoons. Her gags viewed the world through the eyes of the new, urban, sophisticated woman. Art director Rea Irvin and Ross loved her work and her cartooning career was off and running. She contributed 597 cartoons to The New Yorker from 1925 until 1944.

Black and white illustration by Barbara Shermund. Rough sketch of three people sitting at a dining table, caption underneath says, "He said he wanted to show me the sunset" Circa 1937 — “He said he wanted to show me the sunset”

Black and white illustration by Barbara Shermund. Woman smoking on a couch while conversing with a gentleman. Caption reads, "I never felt a day over 21" Circa 1920s — “I never felt a day over 21”

Black and white illustration by Barbara Shermund. Three women conversing in an outdoor cafe. Caption says, "Imagine! As if I'd want her old husband if I did get him!" Circa 1930s — “Imagine! As if I’d want her old husband if I did get him!”

The editors at Esquire also appreciated Shermund’s humor and the way she could dish it out as good as the guys. She was a sneaky dose of estrogen among the testosterone line-up of male cartoonists like Donald McKay, Syd Hoff, E. Simms Campbell and George Petty. Here’s some samples from the 30s and 40s.

Barbara Shermund illustration of woman and make suitor with mother looking cross. Woman is putting a gun in her purse and saying, “Oh you know how mothers are, Mr. Parker - always worrying.” Circa 1937 — “Oh you know how mothers are, Mr. Parker – always worrying.”

Barbara Shermund illustration of disheveled woman standing over another woman in bed saying, “Now before you go jumping at conclusions - he brought me home in a jeep.” Circa 1940s — “Now before you go jumping at conclusions – he brought me home in a jeep.”

Barbara Shermund illustration of a woman with luggage entering the home of a gentleman saying, "He thinks I've gone home to Mother." Circa 1950s — “He thinks I’ve gone home to Mother.”

Barbara Shermund illustration of a cross woman, sitting on a bed, speaking into the phone, "Imagine! I was on his expense account under miscellaneous!" Circa 1950s — “Imagine! I was on his expense account under *miscellaneous*!”

Barbara Shermund illustration of a woman and an older gentleman caller sitting on the couch together. Woman is holding a gift and looking at a shiny bracelet saying, "It's nice, Mr. Talbot - but I haven't finished paying for the one Mr. Millberg gave me." Circa 1937 — “It’s nice, Mr. Talbot – but I haven’t finished paying for the one Mr. Millberg gave me.”

Barbara Shermund illustration of a forward woman embracing a stiff, scared looking man on a couch. Man is saying, "Please, please, Miss Lamont - I have a wife in the service overseas!" Circa 1944 — “Please, please, Miss Lamont – I have a wife in the service overseas!”

Barbara Shermund illustration of two women talking in a dressing room, the one standing is wearing a red robe and saying, "The car radio was on so loud I couldn't understand him - and like a fool I kept nodding my head." Circa 1937 — “The car radio was on so loud I couldn’t understand him – and like a fool I kept nodding my head.”

The New Yorker Cover from September 6, 1941 with illustration by Barbara Shermund showing two service men on a boat with a blonde woman in a white dress. She is holding up her knitting to size for the service man in front of her. — *The New Yorker* Cover, Sept. 6, 1941

We don’t know much about Shermund’s private life. But she seemed to be a bit of a bohemian. Born to artistic parents in San Francisco, she moved to New York City in the 20s. Shermund never had a set address in Manhattan and was constantly moving. She traveled all the time, frequently abroad. She often stayed with friends in upstate Woodstock. She reportedly married a couple of times but it didn’t take and nothing is known about her husbands. She died in 1978 in a nursing home in New Jersey virtually alone. So we’re left with many questions about her personal life.

But the work she left behind speaks for itself. Shermund was a fine draftsman and designer. Her finished pen and watercolor drawings look spontaneous and effortless. Her smart sense of humor shines through every drawing. And makes us wish we knew her better.

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