indeedsir_backup | Wodehouse Illustrator Appreciation Post: A. W. Mills (Reply)

I have more classic Wodehouse illustrations coming, but first, a bit of a palate cleanser. It's no secret around here that my favorite of all the artists who depicted Bertie and Jeeves back in the day is Arthur Wallis Mills. *dreamy sigh*

Overly ragey Jeeves notwithstanding, I still maintain that A. W. Mills "got" Wodehouse's work more than anyone else who put their hand to it. So I decided to take a look at some of his other work and get an idea of what else he got up to. I was not disappointed!

I haven't been able to learn much about Mills himself, except that he was only a little older than Wodehouse. Sadly, he died much younger, at only 62 years old, in 1940. But his career was a fruitful one. He produced lush, full-color illustrations for several of the works of Jane Austen:

And he did, uh, whatever this is:

But when he was not illustrating Austen or drawing flying attack babies, he did a lot of cartoons. Cartoons full of Bertie-esque young wastrels:

Timid, Gussie-like chappies facing off against Honoria-esque beazels:

Aunt-like older ladies of the Agatha type:

Or more along the lines of an Aunt Dahlia:

Inadvisable engagements:

And even more ill-advised sartorial choices:

*Jeeves runs away screaming into the night*

We even have some frustrated would-be dictators:

But there are other political subjects that Mills touched on as well. He seemed to be particularly fascinated by Suffragists, but unlike a lot of contemporary cartoonists who dealt with this thorny subject, Mills seems to have felt a modicum of (grudging?) respect for these tough ladies. Here is perhaps his most famous cartoon:

BAD. ASS.

This one is also intriguing to me:

Mills' Suffragists are not grotesques or layabouts (two of the common stereotypes in political cartoons of the period). They are martial arts masters and "Eminent Woman Surgeons." The rozzers they tangle with seem to fear and respect them. It's dashed refreshing, isn't it?

Here are a few more, just because I love them:

Ha! I love that the old fuddy-duddies are disapproving of the young man's scanty attire for once . . .

Ooh, look, more color!

Aaaah, this is 100% delightful.

WOAH:

YES MA'AM, MISS JEEVES *fans self*

Oh. my. God:

How much do I love that butch bohemian lady? SO much.

Oh lord, this last one seems so strangely relevant today . . .

So many of us living in Today's Economy know that feel, young dude.

And finally, let us never forget that this scene once flowed from A. W. Mills' pen: