Men & women in uniform

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I'll be trying to figure out how to have a great grill-out using only fruits and veggies and hanging out in the garden. I give you a few magazine covers celebrating the armed forces as well as a couple of films I'll be watching this weekend.

The New Yorker August 1943. Cover by Constantin Alajalov

A 4th of July 1943 cover by Constantin Alajalov that is also perfect for Memorial Day

The New Yorker Feb 1943 | Cover by Constantin Alajalov

Lilliput Magazine cover by Walter Trier, July 1942

A lot of of war movies playing this weekend on tv, and there are many excellent ones. I have a personal affinity to World War II films. "From Here to Eternity is one of the best.

This has to be my favorite World War II film. William Wyler's beautiful 1946 drama of soldiers returning home after the war to try and pick up their lives. Playing tonight at 10:30pm EST or 7:30 PST on Turner Classic Movies' Memorial Day Marathon. &… — This has to be my favorite World War II film. William Wyler's beautiful 1946 drama of soldiers returning home after the war to try and pick up their lives. Playing tonight at 10:30pm EST or 7:30 PST on Turner Classic Movies' Memorial Day Marathon. Don't miss it!

Charles E. Martin

While I'm still on my New Yorker archive obsession, here are some of my favorites by Charles E. Martin, who began his 50 years of covers for the magazine in 1938.

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker Feb 28, 1953

Charles E. Martin | The Guggenheim, New Yorker Jan 24, 1970

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker Dec 6, 1941

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker August 4, 1951

Charles E. Martin | New Yorker September 8, 1962

Roger Duvoisin

There's always room in my life for a little more of the beloved Swiss writer and illustrator Roger Duvoisin, so here is what I found around the web this morning.

I don't care for the dead deer in the center, but there's no disputing the beauty of this painting, otherwise.

The beautiful world of Ilonka Karasz

It's 9:30 a.m. and I should be showered, dressed, and walking my dogs. But, no. I must see just one more New Yorker cover illustrated by Ilonka Karasz. I'm searching. Obsessively. Loving each image better than the previous. Ilonka Karasz was something of a wonder, really. Born in Budapest, she came here after studying at the Royal Academy of Arts and Crafts in Budapest, and began illustrating New Yorker covers in the 1920s, while still in her twenties herself, and would eventually illustrate 186 covers between then and the seventies. She also designed many books and book jackets, pottery, tiles, wallpaper, toys, lamps, fabrics, rugs, silverware, china and furniture. She passed away in 1981, but left so much for us to enjoy. Look closely, there's much happening in these worlds.