Animal Follies

Seymour Chwast, Master & Dog Issue, 1972

In 1954 Seymour Chwast, Reynold Ruffins and Edward Sorel started to publish and send 

to advertising agencies the Push Pin Almanack to promote their skills and creative

perspective. Three years later, the Almanack evolved into Push Pin Monthly Graphic, 

an innovative publication that led to the birth of Push Pin Studios and lasted until 1980.

Its 86 themed issues showcased eclectic and groundbreaking work by the studio and 

a group of talented illustrators including Paul Davis, Isadore Seltzer, John Alcorn, 

James McMullan and Emanuel Schongut. Even though it was mainly a promotional 

venue, the magazine often tackled powerful social and political issues. 

 Seymour Chwast, Master & Dog Issue, 1972

  Stanislaw Zagorski, All Blue Issue, 1979

 Seymour Chwast, Eleven Nursery Rhymes Issue, 1961

  Milton Glaser, The Circus Issue, 1960

Milton Glaser and Seymour Chwast, Bertrand Russell on Peace, 1959

  Seymour Chwast, Flora and Fauna in Wood, 

premiere issue of Push Pin Graphic, 1957

  John Alcorn, About Fishing Issue, 1957 

  Seymour Chwast, Back to Sleep Issue, 1978

 A bit of advertising

Isadore Selzer, The Calendar Christmas Issue, 1979

Many thanks to AIGA Design Archives for uploading these beauties and more.

And of course, if you like Push Pin Graphic, you should get this book!

Feelin' Groovy

John Alcorn, spread from The Fireside Book of Children's Songs, 1966,

from Mallory M's gorgeous flickr books set

Travelling back in time in a yellow submarine,

landed on a planet full of color and dreams,

it's a summer full of love I put flowers in my air

young people are painting them everywhere...

Cover of Edward Lear's The Pobble by Dale Maxey, 1968,

thanks to Flamenconut's incredible flickr collection

Poppy Head Turkey, poster by Milton Glaser, 1960s

Papier-maché cat from Nytt med gamla tidningar, 1969,

from P-E Fronning's flickr set

Poster by Robyn Milne

Fat Cat Craft and Coloring Book by Donna Sloan, 1971

Cover of Jerome by Jerome Snyder, 1967

Illustration for A Lodestone and a Toadstone by Irene Elmer, 1969

The four covers above come from oange's delightfully addictive

Jump into my Eye Candy Pool

Tiger flower cover by Fleur Cowles, 1968

Poster by Tadanori Yokoo for the 16th exhibiton of Japan Advertising Artists Club, 1968,

thanks to onelargeprawn

Po Stopach Bengalskeho Tygra by Vratislav Hlavaty, 1973, at Terry Posters

Quicksilver Messenger Service, Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, March 1967

poster by Victor Moscoso

Cover for the first German edition of Lord of the RIngs by Heinz Edelmann, 1969-70

Poster by Tadanori Yokoo, 1974

Sailor 21 Gold Fountain Pen poster by Aquirax Uno, 1968,

thanks to Pink Tentacle

Illisutration for A Paper Zoo by Ellen Raskin,1968,

thanks to the ever fascinating A Journey Round My Skull

Elegant kittens and more: Manny Schongut's children books

Illustration for a Saki (H. H. Munro) story in The Literary Cat, edited by J.C. Suares and Seymour Chwast.

Published by the Push Pin Press in 1977.

Thanks to A Journey Round My Skull's beautiful book covers post and a tip from my lovely flickr friend art.crazed, I am very pleased to have discovered and to share the artwork of Emanuel (Manny) Schongut. Schongut is now a San Francisco resident but used to live in New York City, where he collaborated with the phenomenal Push Pin Studios and created illustrations for periodicals like The New York Times, New York Magazine and Harper's Bazaar.

Following is a selection of illustrations recently uploaded by Schongut in his flickr set dedicated to the numerous children's books (over twenty) he has worked on during his still productive editorial career.

from Stone Man, Stone House, written by Anne Merrick Epstein, illustrated and designed by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Doubleday in 1972.

from Elidore and the Golden Ball, written by Georgess McHargue, illustrated by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Dodd, Mead & Company in 1973.

I asked Schongut about the influence of late 19th century illustration on this book's beautifully outlined drawings, silhouettes and elegant compositions, and he kindly answered:

"You are correct about Elidore. I think Heath Robinson (not Charles, always preferred Heath), Rackham, a bit Beardsley, and Howard Pyle. I think Pogany as well, Kay Nielson, Dorothy Lathrop, maybe Rockwell Kent, and too many more! Jean de Bosschere, the wonderful Boutet De Monvel, and Maude and Miska Petersham have had some influence. As a child I had access to early elementary school readers inherited from an older sister. I still have them and more I have collected through the years, these may really be my roots. The illustrations in the color fairy books and Jessie Willcox Smith illustrations, Japanese prints, art nouveau, art deco, early Disney, early to mid 20th century magazine illustration. Although probably not obvious, Richard Lindner, who taught at Pratt Institute, had a strong influence. Later on when I worked on projects with Milton Glaser and Seymour Chwast at New York Magazine and Pushpin studios, I suppose I could not help but absorb a bit there!"

What an impressive list of inspirations! And it includes at least five artists that I am not familiar with and definitely need to check out ASAP... thanks again, Mr. Schongut!

from The Lonely Skyscraper, written by Jenny Hawksworth, designed and illustrated by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Methuen/Walker books, Doubleday, and Hachette in 1980.

from Five Kitten Board books (Look Kitten, Play Kitten, Wake Kitten, Catch Kitten)

illustrated, designed, and written by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Walker Books London in 1983. Co published in the U.S., France, and the Netherlands.

from Christmas Eve Blizzard, written by Andrea Vlahakis, illustrated by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Sylvan Dell in 2005.

from Turtles In My Sandbox, written by Jennifer Keats Curtis, illustrated and designed by Emanuel Schongut.

Published by Sylvan Dell in 2006.