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Tony Sarg 1880– 1942
The Cabman 1911 Mixed media on paper 19 × 15 inches (48.3 × 38.1 cm) Signed and dates A SIMPLE H’EXPLANATION Puzzled American: “say, cabbie, why don’t you say Hampstead instead of Ampstead” Cabbie “well, sir, when we drop the ‘h’ in ‘Ampstead we picks it up again at H’Islington” Born to an American father and an English mother, Sarg initially attended military school; in 1905, he resigned his commission and took up residence in London, to work as a commercial illustrator. For a decade he enjoyed great success, and designed some of the finest London Underground posters ever made. In 1915, he left London for the USA, becoming an American citizen in 1920. He continued to work in illustration and design, but increasingly turned his attention to toy making and puppetry. He was known as “America’s Puppet Master”. The posters from his time in London are held in the V&A collection or London Transport Museum. |