Derso and Kelen
Emery Kelen was born in Györ, Hungary in 1896. He met Alois Derso in 1922 in Lausanne. Sharing similar biographical backgrounds, both being Jews from Hungary and artists, they became friends and collaborators for the next 30 years – the first 20 years in Europe and the last 10 years in the United States. During the 1920s and 1930s, Kelen and Derso worked in Europe illustrating inter-war Europe with their cartoons. As witnesses to this history, they drew caricatures of famous diplomats and statesmen of the day and satirical cartoons of their activities. They were also the dedicated pictorial reporters of the meetings and delegates of the League of Nations. As active members of the international press corps, their work was eagerly sought after providing a humorous daily record of events at a time when cameras were not allowed in the conference rooms. Their work was published widely in the European press. Kelen and Derso departed Europe on 13 December 1938 aided by friends who recognised the impending dangers facing them due to both being Jewish and their past public criticism of Hitler’s rise to power.
Cartoons for sale:
- The touring car of the League, 1934
- £385
- 53cm x 25cm
- Fortune Magazine
Arthur Henderson League of Nations cartoon.
- "All quiet on the Geneva Front"
21st Oct. 1935 - £345
- 42cm x 20cm
- Fortune Magazine
Arthur Henderson cartoon.
- Prof. Jesse representant de Sa Majeste Haile Selassie I, 1935
- £385
- 40cm x 55cm
- Fortune Magazine
- Saunplebirciel
20th Jan. 1935 - £375
- 48cm x 30cm
- Fortune Magazine
- 'Paradis Terrestre' Le Jardin de Mr. Eden, 1935
- £375
- 37cm x 29cm
- Fortune Magazine
Anthony Eden League of Nations cartoon.
- 'Chaco-oorlog' "Je t'assure, mon vieux, qu'ilya une menace depaix.", 1935
- £475
- 35cm x 45cm
- Fortune Magazine
Chaco War cartoon.
- Tijdeus de behandebring van du woord oy koning Alexander van Joyoslavii
9th Dec. 1934 - £425
- 39cm x 49cm
- Fortune Magazine
Count Albert Apponyi de Nagyappony and Nicolae Titulescu
- Édouard Herriot: "Le Pacte, Le Pacte, rien que du Pacte!!" Paul Boncour: "Securite collective, assistance mutuelle, avant tout.", 1935
- £435
- 38cm x 48cm
- Fortune Magazine
- La Pologne renonce les Traites de Minoritys
13th Sept. 1934 - £485
- 49cm x 33cm
- Fortune Magazine
- La joyeuse Entree de Litvinoff dans la League de Nations
14th Sept. 1934 - £545
- 45cm x 56cm
- Fortune Magazine
- La Conference de Stresa
10th April 1935 - £565
- 57cm x 43cm
- Fortune Magazine
- LOCARNO CONFERENCE LONDON FEB 1936, 1936
- £895
- 55cm x 40cm
- Fortune Magazine
- "ICH KUSSE IHRE MADAME!", 1935
- £425
- 48cm x 33cm
- Fortune Magazine
- LES ROUAGES DE LA S.O.N., 1935
- £395
- 34cm x 42cm
- Fortune Magazine
Mars God of War cartoon.
- MUSSOLINI: ET VOICI LE PONT DES SOUPIRS OU PASSERENT LES CONDAMNES POLITIQUES., 1934
- £585
- 32cm x 39cm
- Fortune Magazine
Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini cartoon.
