A Groundbreaking Woman

Helen Hokinson, cartoonist for The New Yorker

Yesterday, New Yorker cartoonist Helen Hokinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. My husband, cartoonist Michael Maslin, and I attended the lively celebration along with many wonderful artists we know. Michael wrote about it here, in his blog Inkspill.

Since she had no living relatives, the Society of Illustrators asked if I would accept the award for her, and of course I said yes. It was a great honor.

I have written about Ms. Hokinson over the years, in my book and in essays for The New Yorker and elsewhere. She was a wonderful artist, and a groundbreaker, starting in the magazine in 1925 as one of very few women.