Burne Hogarth (born Spinoza Bernard Ginsburg, the younger son of Pauline and carpenter Max. He displayed an early talent for drawing. His father saved these efforts and some years later presented them and the young Hogarth to the registrar at the Art Institute of Chicago. At age 12, Hogarth was admitted, embarking on a formal education that took him through such institutions as Chicago's Crane College and Northwestern University, and New York City's Columbia University in New York City – also studying arts and sciences.
Due to his father's early death, Hogarth began work at age 15, when he became the assistant at the Associated Editors Syndicate and illustrated a series called Famous Churches of the World. He worked for several years as an editor and advertising artist. This work provided steady (and, by 1929, crucial) employment. In 1929, he drew his first comic strip, Ivy Hemmanhaw, for the Barnet Brown Company; in 1930 he drew Odd Occupations and Strange Accidents for Ledd Features Syndicate.
Books
During his years teaching, Hogarth authored a number of anatomy and drawing books. Dynamic Anatomy (1958) and Drawing the Human Head (1965) were followed by further investigations of the human form. Dynamic Figure Drawing (1970) and Drawing Dynamic Hands (1977) completed the figure cycle. Dynamic Light and Shade (1981) and Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery (1995) explored other aspects relative to rendering the figure.
Death
During a stay in Paris, France, Hogarth suffered heart failure. He died on January 28, 1996 in the Hôpital Cochin. He had been visiting the city after attending the Angoulême International Comics Festival where he was a guest of honor.
Publications
Comics
- Tarzan:
- Tarzan in the City of Gold (Titan Books, Sunday strips from 1937 to 1940)
- Tarzan Versus the Barbarians (Titan Books, Sunday strips from 1940 to 1943)
- Tarzan Versus the Nazis (Titan Books, Sunday strips from 1943 to 1947)
- Tarzan and the Lost Tribes (Titan Books, Sunday strips from 1947 to 1949)
- Tarzan and the Adventurers (Titan Books, Sunday strips from 1949 to 1950; dailies from 1947 to 1950)
- Burne Hogarth's Lord of the Jungle (Dark Horse Comics, reprints the graphic novels Tarzan of the Apes and Jungle Tales of Tarzan)
- Miracle Jones
- Drago
Non-fiction books
Non-fiction books, mainly on the principles of art and design, include:
- Dynamic Anatomy (1958, reprint 2003, )
- Drawing the Human Head (1965, reprint, 1989, )
- Dynamic Figure Drawing (1970, reprint, 1996, )
- Drawing Dynamic Hands (1977, reprint 1988, )
- Dynamic Light and Shade (1981, reprint 1992, )
- Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery (1995, )
Articles
Writings:
- "Selecting the Right Art School: The Cartoonist's and Illustrator's Center", The Artist's Monthly
Written by Burne Hogarth, this article details the pitfalls of traditional art school, and points out the benefits of The Cartoonist's and Illustrator's Center (the present-day School of Visual Arts), which he co-founded.
- "A Clash of Two Cultures", American Cinematographer
This article details (among other things) the influence of Burne Hogarth's artwork on Vittorio Storaro, ASC, AIC during the making of Apocalypse Now. From the article: "Storaro's surrealistic treatment of the jungle scenes was partially inspired by the art of Burne Hogarth, whose bold use of color brought the Tarzan comic strip to vivid life during the late 1930s."