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Few Broadway and pop culture entertainment personalities in the past 75 years have
escaped the caricature pen of Al Hirschfeld. His skillful and graceful line drawings
capture not only the appearance but the persona of those he draws. A catalog of
Hirschfeld drawings becomes a history of American theatre and entertainment.
Born in St. Louis in 1903, his mother was advised to take her artistically talented
son (and family) to New York City for formal training. At age 26, after education
and some travel, he returned to New York City, had his first Broadway caricature
published, and within a year began to draw regularly for “The New York Times.”
He is still at it. His drawings have appeared on the covers of major magazines including
“Time” and “Fortune,” on album covers, and on two special sets
of postage stamps, one honoring comedians and the other featuring silent screen
stars. Since the birth of his daughter Nina in 1945, he has hidden her name at least
once in most drawings he has produced. (He once stopped this, but clamor of his
readers forced the resumption of the ritual.) To find and count the “Ninas”
becomes a challenge for his audience.
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