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Photo, Print, Drawing "Riddle: How many missiles does it take to put out all the light bulbs?" / Herblock.

[ digital file from original drawing ]

Full online access to this resource is only available at the Library of Congress.

About this Item

Title

  • "Riddle: How many missiles does it take to put out all the light bulbs?" / Herblock.

Summary

  • Editorial cartoon shows Mr. Atom, an atomic bomb topped with a tiny centurion's helmet, looming over a table during negotiations between "U.S.S.R." and "U.S.A."; above the table is an exposed lightblub drawn to look like a globe.

Names

  • Block, Herbert, 1909-2001, artist

Created / Published

  • 2/8/1983.

Headings

  • -  International relations--United States--1980-1990
  • -  International relations--Soviet Union--1980-1990
  • -  Nuclear weapons--1980-1990
  • -  Nuclear nonproliferation--1980-1990
  • -  Light bulbs--1980-1990
  • -  Globes--United States--1980-1990

Format Headings

  • Drawings--American--1980-1990.
  • Editorial cartoons--American--1980-1990.

Genre

  • Editorial cartoons--American--1980-1990
  • Drawings--American--1980-1990

Notes

  • -  Caption label from exhibit Art in Action War and Its Impact: An Unwelcome Figure. President Ronald Reagan initiated strategic nuclear arms reduction talks with the Soviet Union several times during his administration. During one such negotiation between the superpowers, Herblock inserts his signature character, Mr. Atom, possibly as "a warning he wasn't going to be permanently on our side alone and that if he weren't controlled he could cut loose the whole world." Although wanting the U.S. to develop more nuclear weapons than the U.S.S.R., the president also came to realize how vital it was that both reduce arms.
  • -  Title from item.
  • -  Signed "Herblock" lower right.
  • -  Forms part of: Herbert L. Block collection (Library of Congress).
  • -  Exhibited: "Art in Action : Herblock and Fellow Artists Respond to Their Times" in the Graphic Arts Gallery, Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., January 31 - August 17, 2019.

Medium

  • 1 drawing : crayon, graphite, India ink, opaque white, and porous point pen with overlay over blue pencil underdrawing ; sheet 57.5 x 36 cm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • BLOCK, no. 10530 (BB size)

Source Collection

  • Block, Herbert, 1909-2001. Herbert L. Block collection (Library of Congress)

Repository

Digital Id

  • hlb 10530 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hlb.10530

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2012641101

Reproduction Number

  • LC-DIG-hlb-10530 (digital file from original drawing)

Rights Advisory

Online Format

  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress does not own rights to material in its collections. Therefore, it does not license or charge permission fees for use of such material and cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material.

Ultimately, it is the researcher's obligation to assess copyright or other use restrictions and obtain permission from third parties when necessary before publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the Library's collections.

For information about reproducing, publishing, and citing material from this collection, as well as access to the original items, see: Herbert Block ("Herblock") - Rights and Restrictions Information

  • Rights Advisory: Publication may be restricted. For information see "Herbert Block ("Herblock") Rights and Restrictions," https://aj.sunback.homes/rr/print/res/271_herb.html
  • Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-hlb-10530 (digital file from original drawing)
  • Call Number: BLOCK, no. 10530 (BB size)
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

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Access to Originals

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  1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.

  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

    • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.
    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Block, Herbert, Artist. "Riddle: How many missiles does it take to put out all the light bulbs?" / Herblock. United States Soviet Union, 1983. 2/8. Photograph. https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2012641101/.

APA citation style:

Block, H. (1983) "Riddle: How many missiles does it take to put out all the light bulbs?" / Herblock. United States Soviet Union, 1983. 2/8. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://aj.sunback.homes/item/2012641101/.

MLA citation style:

Block, Herbert, Artist. "Riddle: How many missiles does it take to put out all the light bulbs?" / Herblock. 2/8. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <aj.sunback.homes/item/2012641101/>.