Evening star., 1944-08-06
Bv Leila MechIin


OF all the compliments paid Cliff
ford K Bergman, cartoonist of The
Star, since receiving the Pulitzer
award for the best cartoon of the
year, the one which perhaps he will
prize most highly was the request Of
the librarian of Congress, Archibald
MacLeish, for a collection of his
original drawings for permanent
placement in the Library's Cabinet
of American Illustration, established
some years ago through the initia-
tive of Leicester B. Holland. then
chief of the Division of Fine Arts, in
which now the leading illustrators of
this country are represented.
The reason for this qualification
on Mr.. Berryman's part and his
prompt acceptance of the request is
not far to seek. The daily cartoon
In any newspaper. despite its merit,
Is an ephemeral thing-here today,
gone tomorrow. It's purpose is not
longevity but immediate service-to
point the news, political and other
wise, to inform and influence public
opinion. Having accomplished these
objectives it becomes thing of the
past, forgotten almost as soon as
the page is turned. On the other
hand, inclusion in the Cabinet of
American Illustration gives recog-
milton to the merit of such works as
contributions within the field of art
and extends such recognition in
perpetuity. Mr.. Berryman's cartoons
deserve this honor.
Excellent Craftsman
Entirely self-taught, Cliff Berry
man." as he is affectionately called
by countless friends and associates,
is an excellent craftsman. Every
line he draws counts and his mind
Is as nimble as his pen. When he
has story to tell he tells it with
directness and clarity. Moreover he
has remarkable gift for caricature,
catching likenesses and portraying
personality with such skill that
there is never a doubt as to identity.
All of this gives quality and merit
TO his work-that of an artist-but
he would not have attained his pres
ent distinction if he had not brought
daily to his task the artists phe-
nominal enthusiasm. To him each
drawing has been new adventure,
4 welcome task
Mr.. Bergman has been cartooniSt
of The Star since 1907, and during
all these years he has made car
toon a day, week in and week out.
Of late his son, Jim has become
his understudy, following closely in
his footsteps, relieving him of in
evitable sole responsibility, but there
has been no lessening of vigor or
quality of achievement on his ac-
count. In fact, during the current
season, and despite wartime's draft
on nerves, his drawing have, it would
seem, been even better than before,
more vigorous as we'll as more clever,
hard hitting and significant.
Great Historical Value
The collection of originals to be
included in the cabinet of American
illustrations will eventually number
between one and two thousand, all
carefully selected from the car
toonist's private collection as repre-
sentative of his art and his reading
of the events which called them
forth. In the latter respect they
will be found to reflect political life
and other events of the times so
graphically that they will possess
great historical value. Here is where
the Illustrator lays claim to his
title. Caricaturing is the art of
eXaggeration. Every cartoonist must
use it, but not every caricaturist
can be a cartoonist-the latter being
an interpreter, pictorial COM
mentor on history in the making.
All of the cartoons to go to the
Library of Congress have been
chosen from Mr.. Berryman's private
collection, catalogued and anno-
tated by his daughter, the present
writer's colleague - Florence S.
Berryman-greatly adding to their
value as permanent possessions.
Some of the great artists of these
and other days have been iilllus-
trators-and for material have
turned to current events. There
have been giants in this field when
occasion has called for such-as
for instance, Daumier, Goya, Gar
vini, Forain and others-men of
talent who gave themselves to the
remedying Of public ills through
pictorial Interpretation. The mass
of illustration has, of course, been
more closely related to literature
the artist entering into partnership
with the writer with the intent Of
clarifying and Illuminating the
story he had to tell-the characters
that he had created. Some of the
best painters in this and other
countries have begun as illustrators.
Among the Giants
1t is in the field of Illustration
that the caricaturist and the Illus
traitor meet and join hands. Some
times the two callings are found in
one person For instance, Thackery,
ID a.-l.a.,