A most excellent analysis; thank you! I'm glad to hear that something as ephemeral as editorial cartoons are being given the kind of attention usually reserved for "serious art." Your concept of "reverse icons" is illuminating. Again, thanks.
Thanks so much for your interest, your patience, and your kind remarks! Partly because I am a cartooning enthusiast, but even more because I take art history seriously, I don’t really differentiate sharply between “serious art” and popular art. It’s all art, and it’s all worth thinking about!
Thank you for sharing these mostly delightful cartoons, and your fascinating write up. However, until today, I have never doubted the reunion of Christian families and friends in heaven, nor heard anyone else question it. I can’t argue the point, so I’m just sitting on my sofa, deeply saddened.
I think the hope for reunion is something that has to die in the form we expect, but rises again in a new form. I believe that Jesus died and rose to redeem all creation—every flower, every flare star, every friendship. I believe nothing good is gone forever, especially not love. I think our ideas about reunion are naive, and that—as we barely know who we ourselves are (“till we have faces”) and we barely know who other people are—we have very little insight into what our heavenly relations will be. But I have no doubt that all that is good and true in our earthly relations will be far more gloriously good and true in heaven. I might venture to guess that, more than reunion, in heaven we will finally meet, knowing ourselves and others truly for the first time! That this will not, however, abolish our earthly lives or relationships, we Catholics may dare to hope on the basis, among other things, of the queenship of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Does that help?
Thank you, Steven. Yes, it helps. It’s pretty much what I’ve always thought. That we would know each other and love each other far more than is possible in this world. I think we will have joy in learning we influenced people for good many times without realizing it. Of course, the opposite is also true for probably everyone that we have also hurt people without knowing it. But that won’t be possible for us to remember once we’re in heaven. We’ll have eternity, so every person will have unlimited time with the saints and all those who are spiritual heroes for us. And I also believe Cassie will be there!
I think you are looking at method #2 (Carter doing habitat for humanity work in Heaven) to literally and theologically. I think you need to look at it as hyperbole that is not meant to truly reflect Heaven.
The idea is that Carter was the GOAT of service. It is akin to saying “He would even be helping Heaven build houses rather than take time off.”
Just as we don’t literally believe that Tina would be headlining some choir in Heaven, we are not meant to believe, literally, that President Cater would be building houses in Heaven (or that Heaven would need houses built)
Hm. I think I said *exactly* what you are proposing, Charles:
“Read as a reverse icon, we might say the point of the cartoon is that *during his lifetime* Carter kept on selflessly working to make the world a better place long after he had ‘done enough’ or ‘earned his wings’ or whatever. This would make Darkow’s cartoon a more exact counterpart to Luckovich’s Tina Turner cartoon: In his own way, Carter is the GOAT, *more than* good enough for heaven” (emphasis in original).
But I also have problems with that interpretation, because before an image can function as a metaphor, it first has to function as an image! In other words, while we don’t literally believe that Tina would be headlining some choir in heaven, the image is intelligible on its face (at least, set in cartoon heaven). And the one with Carter isn’t, really.
Interesting. For me (with the exception of the one where Carter was being _handed_ a tool belt) the images were instantly intelligible to me as “Jimmy Carter is helping to build refuges and houses, even in Heaven; he is not taking a break.”
I guess they could have put the name “Carter” on his caricature so that we would know before reading the speech bubbles. However, it was clear (to me, at least) that this was Heaven and that, even there, the person was performing service (The one where he was being handed the tool belt, though, not so much)
Right, Charles, that scans! The question I have is, “On the level of the image, what does it *mean* that he’s building houses in cartoon heaven? Who is he building them for, and how does heaven feel about it? You see, if you ask questions like these about Turner headlining the heavenly choir, the answers are obvious: We are all familiar with the idea of music and singing in heaven, and Turner is obviously taking her rightful place in the spotlight, to well-deserved heavenly acclaim! With Carter, it feels somehow hollow, because I don’t know what it’s for or how it’s received. Does that make sense?
To put it another way: Turner is *joining* an ongoing effort in heaven that is clearly valued and appreciated. Carter is laboring alone, to what end we have no ready answer, either from the cartoon-heaven tradition or from these particular cartoons (except for the one you mention where he’s being handed a tool belt!). I guess I feel like somebody saying something like “Well done” or “Welcome” or “This is where you belong” is an essential part of a satisfying heavenly obituary cartoon?
I agree that the Ramirez panel is the best. It reminds me of my personal favorite piece of religious art. My family got it from our then-parish back in the 1990s or 2000s and it eventually wound up in my possession. I wish I could share the photo I took of it with my phone on the comments here but I can post it on Notes so that's what I'll do. I found it online but my picture is bigger, has a slightly different translation with correct spelling, and the text is outside the image instead of imbedded: https://www.pray4zion.org/images/graphics/welldonegoodandfaithfulservant.jpg
I don't know who made it (even though there's a signature in the bottom right-hand corner of my picture) or when it was created.
On Danny Hahlbohm’s website, I find clear evidence in very similar paintings that the work is his. However, I am not able to find an exact match with the Father’s hands and the specific dove. Hope that helps!
In my haste, I forgot to mention in my previous comment that I looked at the signature in the corner of my picture and I would say that the first letter definitely looks like a "D" and the rest could be Hahlbohm. I think you've solved this case. 😁
A most excellent analysis; thank you! I'm glad to hear that something as ephemeral as editorial cartoons are being given the kind of attention usually reserved for "serious art." Your concept of "reverse icons" is illuminating. Again, thanks.
Thanks so much for your interest, your patience, and your kind remarks! Partly because I am a cartooning enthusiast, but even more because I take art history seriously, I don’t really differentiate sharply between “serious art” and popular art. It’s all art, and it’s all worth thinking about!
Thank you for sharing these mostly delightful cartoons, and your fascinating write up. However, until today, I have never doubted the reunion of Christian families and friends in heaven, nor heard anyone else question it. I can’t argue the point, so I’m just sitting on my sofa, deeply saddened.
I think the hope for reunion is something that has to die in the form we expect, but rises again in a new form. I believe that Jesus died and rose to redeem all creation—every flower, every flare star, every friendship. I believe nothing good is gone forever, especially not love. I think our ideas about reunion are naive, and that—as we barely know who we ourselves are (“till we have faces”) and we barely know who other people are—we have very little insight into what our heavenly relations will be. But I have no doubt that all that is good and true in our earthly relations will be far more gloriously good and true in heaven. I might venture to guess that, more than reunion, in heaven we will finally meet, knowing ourselves and others truly for the first time! That this will not, however, abolish our earthly lives or relationships, we Catholics may dare to hope on the basis, among other things, of the queenship of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Does that help?
Thank you, Steven. Yes, it helps. It’s pretty much what I’ve always thought. That we would know each other and love each other far more than is possible in this world. I think we will have joy in learning we influenced people for good many times without realizing it. Of course, the opposite is also true for probably everyone that we have also hurt people without knowing it. But that won’t be possible for us to remember once we’re in heaven. We’ll have eternity, so every person will have unlimited time with the saints and all those who are spiritual heroes for us. And I also believe Cassie will be there!
I think you are looking at method #2 (Carter doing habitat for humanity work in Heaven) to literally and theologically. I think you need to look at it as hyperbole that is not meant to truly reflect Heaven.
The idea is that Carter was the GOAT of service. It is akin to saying “He would even be helping Heaven build houses rather than take time off.”
Just as we don’t literally believe that Tina would be headlining some choir in Heaven, we are not meant to believe, literally, that President Cater would be building houses in Heaven (or that Heaven would need houses built)
Hm. I think I said *exactly* what you are proposing, Charles:
“Read as a reverse icon, we might say the point of the cartoon is that *during his lifetime* Carter kept on selflessly working to make the world a better place long after he had ‘done enough’ or ‘earned his wings’ or whatever. This would make Darkow’s cartoon a more exact counterpart to Luckovich’s Tina Turner cartoon: In his own way, Carter is the GOAT, *more than* good enough for heaven” (emphasis in original).
But I also have problems with that interpretation, because before an image can function as a metaphor, it first has to function as an image! In other words, while we don’t literally believe that Tina would be headlining some choir in heaven, the image is intelligible on its face (at least, set in cartoon heaven). And the one with Carter isn’t, really.
Interesting. For me (with the exception of the one where Carter was being _handed_ a tool belt) the images were instantly intelligible to me as “Jimmy Carter is helping to build refuges and houses, even in Heaven; he is not taking a break.”
I guess they could have put the name “Carter” on his caricature so that we would know before reading the speech bubbles. However, it was clear (to me, at least) that this was Heaven and that, even there, the person was performing service (The one where he was being handed the tool belt, though, not so much)
Right, Charles, that scans! The question I have is, “On the level of the image, what does it *mean* that he’s building houses in cartoon heaven? Who is he building them for, and how does heaven feel about it? You see, if you ask questions like these about Turner headlining the heavenly choir, the answers are obvious: We are all familiar with the idea of music and singing in heaven, and Turner is obviously taking her rightful place in the spotlight, to well-deserved heavenly acclaim! With Carter, it feels somehow hollow, because I don’t know what it’s for or how it’s received. Does that make sense?
To put it another way: Turner is *joining* an ongoing effort in heaven that is clearly valued and appreciated. Carter is laboring alone, to what end we have no ready answer, either from the cartoon-heaven tradition or from these particular cartoons (except for the one you mention where he’s being handed a tool belt!). I guess I feel like somebody saying something like “Well done” or “Welcome” or “This is where you belong” is an essential part of a satisfying heavenly obituary cartoon?
A marvelous analysis of a genre you have thoughtfully helped me, may I say, dislike a bit less...?
An outcome beyond my reasonable hopes! Thank you!
I agree that the Ramirez panel is the best. It reminds me of my personal favorite piece of religious art. My family got it from our then-parish back in the 1990s or 2000s and it eventually wound up in my possession. I wish I could share the photo I took of it with my phone on the comments here but I can post it on Notes so that's what I'll do. I found it online but my picture is bigger, has a slightly different translation with correct spelling, and the text is outside the image instead of imbedded: https://www.pray4zion.org/images/graphics/welldonegoodandfaithfulservant.jpg
I don't know who made it (even though there's a signature in the bottom right-hand corner of my picture) or when it was created.
I did a little research for you, Christopher, and here’s what I found:
First, a vendor called Dickson’s Gifts credits the image to painter Danny Hahlbohm:
https://lighthousechristianproducts.dicksonsgifts.com/brandfour/shopbrandfour/BKM-478?position=-1
On Danny Hahlbohm’s website, I find clear evidence in very similar paintings that the work is his. However, I am not able to find an exact match with the Father’s hands and the specific dove. Hope that helps!
https://diana-hahlbohm.pixels.com/featured/welcome-home-danny-hahlbohm.html
In my haste, I forgot to mention in my previous comment that I looked at the signature in the corner of my picture and I would say that the first letter definitely looks like a "D" and the rest could be Hahlbohm. I think you've solved this case. 😁
So glad I could help, Christopher!
Thank you very much.
You’re very welcome!