1950s MCM Scared Pool Diver Impulses Gag Cartoon Illustration Ponce De León.
Original 1950s mid-century modernist gag cartoon drawing from Michael Ponce de León's "Impulses" series of cartoon illustrations. A striking mid-century modernist original ink and wash/watercolor illustration depicting a swimmer gracefully diving off a high board, contrasted with a shadowy silhouetted figure representing the subconsciousness of the diver cowering on the platform and a detailed overhead view of a crowded pool deck and beach umbrellas below. The artwork showcases classic UPA-inspired geometric character design, sleek 1950s decor, and original crop marks from its magazine publication layout.
measures: 10.75"h by 14"
Medium: Pen & Ink with Blue Wash on Paper.
Style: Mid-Century Modern Cartoon Art.
Unframed, Unmatted
Condition: The drawing is in very good condition with wear and aging.
Signature: Ponce De León(Acquired from the estate of Michael Ponce De León)
Artist Biography
Early Life & Education
- Birth & Childhood: Michael Ponce de León was born on July 4, 1922, in Miami, Florida. He spent his youth growing up in Mexico City, where he began his higher education.
- Early Studies: He studied architecture at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mexico City.
- Military Service: During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Forces.
- Artistic Training in New York: Following his military service, he relocated to New York City to pursue formal art training. He studied at several institutions, including the Art Students League of New York, the National Academy of Design, and the School of the Brooklyn Museum.
Career & Artistic Practice
- Mediums & Style: Recognized as a painter, cartoonist, and master printmaker, Ponce de León gained renown for his graphic works, relief prints, and experimental printmaking methods.
- Solo Exhibition: In 1966, he was featured in a major solo exhibition hosted by the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
- International Leadership: Under the sponsorship of the U.S. State Department, he directed printmaking workshops internationally in countries including India, Pakistan, Yugoslavia, and Spain.
- Organizational Roles: He was an active member of the Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA) and served as the organization's treasurer in 1968. He was also a member of the Association of American University Professors.
Academic & Teaching Career
Ponce de León spent decades educating printmakers and artists across the United States:
- Pratt Graphic Art Center & Pratt Institute: Taught from 1957 to 1971.
- Art Students League of New York: Instructed from 1966 to 1986.
- Other Institutions: Held teaching positions and faculty roles at Vassar College (1953), Hunter College (1959–1966), Cooper Union (1962–1967), California State College (1969), Hayward State College (1970), Columbia University (1972), and New York University (1976–1977).
Awards, Grants & Recognition
Throughout his career, he earned over 65 medals, purchase prizes, and honors, including:
- Tiffany Foundation Grant: Awarded in 1955 (with a second fellowship awarded in later years).
- Fulbright Grant: Awarded in 1956 for study in Scandinavia.
- Guggenheim Fellowship: Awarded in 1967 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
Museum Collections & Legacy
- Public Collections: His paintings and prints are held in public institutions and museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Walker Art Center, the Library of Congress, and the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
- Death: Michael Ponce de León died in Mexico on January 23, 2006.