The New Yorker Magazine’s Nod to Graffiti

No one was more surprised than I to see a series of 7 tiny drawings about graffiti in this weeks’
New Yorker. The New Yorker has long peppered its pages with line drawings of everyday life that
don’t relate to the surrounding articles. For the past few years, these so-called “spot” drawings have
had a theme or told a story. In the March 8, 2010 issue the 7 sequential drawings seen below were
printed somewhat randomly from pages 29-75. They are only an inch or two high.

The story line is a familiar one of a writer being apprehended in the act of spraying and having to paint
over his tag with a paint roller. But the beauty of this particular tale is that the final frame shows our
intrepid hero unbowed and clinging one-handed as he sprays again, this time out of reach of the authorities.
I give the New Yorker a gold star for that surprise ending. For a staid magazine, it’s positively subversive!

Unfortunately it’s nearly impossible to figure out the artist of the drawings because no individual credits for
drawings are given. Big up to you whoever you are!!  Addition—Thanks Alex for pointing out that the spots are
separately credited. The artist is Maximilian Bode. Nice job Max!!