I have never seen any other artwork in any other publication with that signature, and The Post never had Ressler work on any other features (as far as I know). An internet search proved fruitless, and Ressler is not listed in any volumes I own collecting information on illustrators or cartoonists.
Ressler's semi-cartoony style holds a lot of appeal for me. He was no slouch with pen and ink. His work reveals a good sense of observation... and a sharp wit.
Perhaps some day we'll find out more about Ressler -- but for now, all we have are these examples of his work.
My Ressler Flickr set.
I'd bet money it was Hank Ketcham.
ReplyDeleteYou're not the only one who's suggested Ressler's work looks like Ketcham... and I have to agree, Bill, there's a strong resemblance.
ReplyDeleteGreat, confident lines. Good conceptual thinker. Consistent and likable style with a refreshing loosness.
ReplyDeleteHe balances the blacks and whites perfectly, which is especially evident in the reading infant, the man by the athletics statue, and the wonderful man waiting/smoking by the fire hydrant. The use of the solid black on that last one is excellent.
Thanks.
Why don't you contact the current incarnation of the SatEvePost? Much of the archive is intact and there may be some rights and permissions entries covering this artist.
ReplyDeleteThat's Bill Ressler.
ReplyDeletewww.williamressler.com/
http://pbu.edu/alumni/profiles/williamressler.cfm
From Bill..
ReplyDeleteHi Brad,
These drawings were commissioned by the Saturday Evening Post
to illustrate a series that they assigned to me in the 50's. The name of the series was
"People are like that". Each cartoon was based on a manuscript assigned to me weekly.
Occasionally I would illustrate another series of cartoons called "The Perfect Squelch"
that also appeared in the Post. Thanks for the memories!
Blessings,
Bill