Clare A. Briggs Paintings

Clare A. Briggs was an American cartoonist, born in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, on August 5, 1875. He began his career as a newspaper illustrator and cartoonist in the late 1890s after attending the Art Institute of Chicago for a brief period. Briggs moved from job to job in the early years, working for newspapers such as the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the Minneapolis Journal.

In 1904, he joined the New York American, where he created his first successful comic strip, 'A. Piker Clerk.' This strip captured the spirit of the times by focusing on the adventures of a lowly office clerk, but Briggs's most enduring work would come later with strips like 'The Days of Real Sport' and 'When a Feller Needs a Friend.' These series showcased his keen ability to observe and capture the everyday experiences and emotions of middle-class American life.

Briggs's style was characterized by a gentle humor and an affectionate portrayal of American domestic and small-town life, often reflecting his own experiences and those of the people around him. His illustrations were simple yet expressive, allowing the characters' personalities to shine through. He had a gift for creating characters that were relatable and endearing to his audience.

Clare Briggs continued to work and create new comic strips throughout the 1910s and 1920s. His work was widely syndicated, and he became a celebrated figure in the world of newspaper comics of his day. Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he died on January 3, 1930, in New York City. Despite his early death, Briggs's work remains an important part of the history of American comic art, reflecting the culture and values of his era.