Carl Van Vechten

“ On September 12, 1923—as this was the birthday of both Alfred Knopf and Henry Mencken, I readily recall the date—my friend Sherrill Schell hailed me on the telephone to request me to examine some drawings by a Mexican boy who had recently arrived in New York. "He has nothing to show editors but caricatures of Mexicans, unknown here. If you like his designs, I thought perhaps you might introduce him to some New York subjects." Now any person in public life is the object of at least one such appeal every week of his career, and it is usually a waste of time to listen to it. ”

“ I had believed, hitherto, that it was necessary for a caricaturist to study his subject for some time before he touched pen to paper. Covarrubias, at least so far as his own work was concerned, effectively demolished this belief. Speaking English imperfectly, a newcomer to this country, frequently he was actually ignorant as to whether his model was actor, painter, or author. In spite of this handicap, or because of it, his caricatures almost invariably go deeply behind the mere sculptural formation of the face. They are often a complete criticism of a personality. ”

“ At the present moment, Miguel Covarrubias is about as well known in New York as it would be possible for any one to be. In fact, when I desire to meet any celebrated person nowadays, my instinct suggests at once that Covarrubias is the man who can most easily manage the introduction. On the whole, therefore, I fancy it would be more appropriate for him to draw a frontispiece for a book of mine than for me to furnish this poor preface for this brilliant book of his. I think, in compensation, I'll ask him to do it!
CARL VAN VECHTEN
New York. ”