Every day brings a new story. And each day contributes to story telling -- in prose and in poetry, in art and in music, on the stage, on the screen, and, of course, in books.
Today is the story of Aug. 20th
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It is the 232nd day of the year, leaving 133 days remaining in 2022.
He told his stories, most famously about a Krazy Kat, in cartoons that were humorous, creative, and sometimes subversive.
Through most of his career, he had the support of his publisher, William Randolph Hearst, and was well-regarded by art critics and the arts intelligentsia. His support among the general public was mediocre, although newspapers ran his strips for more than 30 years.
The strip Krazy Kat started as a sight gag in other cartoons Herriman drew -- and Krazy Kat and Ignatz Mouse were soon starring in their own. That strip took advantage of the space early cartoonists were given, and Herriman's drawings were full of fantasy to the point of surrealism, and his dialogue was poetic and absurdist.
In plot, it was simple enough, Krazy Kat loved Ignatz Mouse, who would return the feeling by throwing bricks at Kat. Police Officer Offissa Pupp would step in to try to protect Kat, whose gender was fluid, with references to Kat as both him and her. But in telling their tales, Herriman would meander across the page in his words and drawings, developing new concepts and creating unique designs.
The strip's influence has been wide: Underground artists such as R. Crump, and established mainstream creators such as Charles Shultz, have cited Herriman as an influence. Walt Kelly would sneak in tributes in his Pogo strip. Dr. Seuss expressed his admiration, and critic have seen Harriman's impact on his work.
Herriman died in 1944.
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