Original and rare unsigned ink illustration of a gentleman fishing, captioned in Clemens’ hand, “Joe Jefferson,” on a 5.75 x 7 off-white illustrator’s sheet affixed to an 8 x 10.5 card. Clemens made this sketch for an article entitled ‘Instructions in Art,’ which originally was published in Metropolitan Magazine in 1903. Clemens writes of the drawing in the article, "The above is a marine picture, and is intended to educate the eye in the important matters of perspective and foreshortening. The mountainous and bounding waves in the foreground, contrasted with the tranquil ship fading away as in a dream the other side of the fishing-pole, convey to us the idea of space and distance as no words could do. Such is the miracle wrought by that wondrous device, perspective…The portrait reproduces Mr. Joseph Jefferson, the common friend of the human race. He is fishing, and is not catching anything. This is finely expressed by the moisture in the eye and the anguish of the mouth. The mouth is holding back words. The pole is bamboo, the line is foreshortened. This foreshortening, together with the smoothness of the water out there where the cork is, gives a powerful impression of distance, and is another way of achieving a perspective effect." In very good to fine condition, with a pencil notation above image, a light horizontal crease, scattered light toning and soiling, and some notations and surface loss to borders of card.
Clemens and Jefferson were not only close friends but also great contemporaries, with Twain the greatest satirist of the age and Jefferson the greatest comedic actor. Jefferson’s greatest success came via his portrayal of Rip Van Winkle, as he captured the seemingly unconscious humor of the character through bewilderment and stupefaction. The simultaneous emergence of Jefferson's Rip Van Winkle and the Mark Twain lecturing persona underscored their personal and professional kinship, as well as the similar conditions and traditions from which they emerged. In his Metropolitan Magazine, he described his friend as “the common friend of the human race” as he spends an emotional day fishing, “not catching anything” and thus portraying him with “moisture in the eye and the anguish of the mouth.” Indeed, Twain's performances may have taken place in print and at the podium, but were rooted in low-culture caricature, not unlike the one undertaken by Jefferson. The fact that in 1903 Clemens draws Jefferson is remarkable, with his description absolutely unique. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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