Life, 1926-09-16 · page 8 of 40
Life — September 16, 1926 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page celebrates illustrator Thomas Starling Sullivant through a tribute poem by O.H. (likely Oscar Herford) and Sullivant's characteristic animal drawings arranged around the text. The poem praises Sullivant's mastery of animal illustration—describing how he studied puppets and mechanical creatures to understand movement, then brought various animals (giraffe, tortoise, centaur beetle, deer, ape, elephant, hare, hippopotamus) to life in his work. The verses claim his artwork possesses an enduring "Spirit" that transcends the mechanical, linking his soul to "that Unknown who carved the Sphinx"—elevating his craft to near-divine status. The surrounding illustrations showcase his signature style: detailed, anthropomorphic animals rendered in expressive ink drawings, demonstrating the very mastery the poem celebrates.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thomas Starling Sullivant 4E held the convex mirror up to Truth Gi And captured her with laughter. In his youth Around God's Toy Shop, wonder-eyed he strayed And watched the Puppets, marked how they were made, Studied their works and learned the secret springs That made them walk or swim or flap their wings. The proud Giraffe, the humble Tortoise bowed With household care, the Centaur beetle-browed, The delicate Deer, the Ape with curious eyes, The Elephant mysteriously wise, The trembling Hare—the Hippopotamus. With loving art and zeal meticulous He mastered thern and made them live for us. Now they shall live for him and write his name And high achievement in the Book of Fame. In every work that bears his Signature Resides a Spirit destined to endure, Huunting, remote, intangible, that links His soul with that Unknown who carved the Sphinx. comicbooks.com