Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Just Before "Tattoo", c. 1917-1918 |
Object Name |
Sketch |
Description |
Just Before "Tattoo", c. 1917-1918. Pen and ink on lined off-white paper sketch depicts a man with his back to the viewer in the foreground. He wears his undergarments and is stepping into bed, with one hand holding the bedframe and the other lifting the blanket, and one knee raised. In the background is a ceiling beam, a sleeping soldier with "zzz"s in a dialogue bubble above him, and another soldier smoking a cigarette saying goodnight to everyone. In bubble letters in the top right corner is the caption "Just Before "Tattoo"". Some pencil shading is visible underneath the pen. |
Date |
c. 1917-1918 |
Creator |
Colby, Alvin Page |
Role |
Artist |
Medium |
Pen & Ink/Pencil/Paper |
Catalog Number |
2017.052.025 |
Dimensions |
H-10 W-8 inches |
Collection |
Archival Collection |
Inscription Text |
"Just Before "Tattoo"" (caption, bubble letters, top right); ""Seavey the / Siwash" / "Joe the BarKeep" / "Scurvy Mike" / Good Night." (dialogue bubble, just under caption); "zzz! / [circle] / zzzz! / *z*" (dialogue bubble, background, framed by main soldier's arm) |
Provenance |
Original sketch created by Alvin Page Colby during training and active duty during World War I and mailed home to his family. Donated to the San Mateo County Historical Association courtesy of the Daughters & Grandchildren of Alvin Page Colby. |
Notes |
"Burlingame resident Alvin Page Colby documented his experience serving in WWI with comic sketches... Alvin Page Colby, a resident of Burlingame, made dozens of drawings while training at Fort Lewis in Washington and later serving in France as a cook in the 91st "Wild West" Division." [http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/26/peninsula-museum-offers-personal-new-look-into-old-war/ 10/17/2017] Tattoo is the evening bugle call that signal all lights in the squad room to be extinguished and all loud talking to be discontinued within 15 minutes. [La Pen, Vol. xlv, No. 2, p. 18] |
Search Terms |
Army Burlingame Colby, Alvin Page Drawing War War History War Service World War 1 World War I WWI |
Subjects |
Cartoonists Cartoons (Commentary) Military life Sketches War World War I |
People |
Colby, Alvin Page |
Credit line |
Courtesy of the Daughters & Grandchildren of Alvin Page Colby |