Classic Cartoons: Martin Plimmer on B Kliban
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AS THE originator of abominable cartooning concepts (eg: "Genitalia of the Universe"), it is only fitting that B Kliban should have possessed so perceptive an insight into the mind of the cat. Kliban, a regular contributor to Playboy, drew cats with affection, but without any sentimentality, revealing them to be self-important, absurd, cruel, and (as here), endlessly hedonistic.
His cat books, which he started in 1975, spawned a $50m merchandising industry. As bewitching as the humour of the work is the occasional straight sketch of Kliban's own cats, Nitty, Norton, Burton Rustle and Noko Marie the Snake.
Kliban died in 1990, leaving grieving Japanese fans to barter increasingly rare Kliban cat mugs on the Internet; their names (Tanu, Hiromi, Jasmine) are suspiciously catlike, unlike the artist's; it was Bernard until he cut the body off.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments