Bachtell School

The Art of Blackmail Caricature

Some years ago, I did my level best to render cartooning legend Tom Bachtell with the respect he deserves. I’ve been an admirer of Bachtell’s portraits throughout his long association with The New Yorker, so when he began posting portraits he had swapped with other artists on Facebook, I jumped at the chance to craft his likeness and send it his way. This was blackmail, pure and simple.

Because what I really wanted was this:

Yes, I guilted one of my favorite artists into slinging ink in my likeness. What’s worse, I now tell the lie that the drawing appeared in The New Yorker, when my exploits were discussed in the “Talk of the Town” column.

This would seem impressive, except the drawing is now displayed in my studio in Germany, where no one has ever heard of The New Yorker. In fact, I’m finding that the folks around here are generally out of touch with all the high points of media culture. Cat Fancy? Chick comics? Hee Haw? The Germans don’t have a clue.

Which is why I can tell them anything about my life in the States and they’ll believe it. Just ask my close, personal friend, Beyoncé.

Eternal thanks to the great Tom Bachtell for this treasured portrait and for helping to boost my street cred among the gullible Deutsche.

- A.H.

(And let’s not forget Ashley’s website, jam-packed with portraits and other drawings, his illustrated rant column, The Symptoms, his highly-affordable prints and books currently available, his eagerness for your portrait commission, and his contact email, thrdgll@gmail.com, where he longs to hear from you.)