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Chess Cartoons: The Funny Side of the Game
Chess is an ancient game that has been played by Kings, Queens and others of the nobility for centuries. In more recent times, it has captured the interest of the common man as more and more people are eager to learn the intricacies of the game. Chess is typically considered a serious endeavor that leaves no room for levity. The truth is that many famous artists and caricaturists have used chess as their inspiration. Chess art comes in many forms, but the lightest form of chess art is chess cartoons. » Where to Find Chess Cartoons You can view various types of chess art in museums around the world. Most chess cartoons are published in chess magazines, newsletters and are even used as postcards. There are many places on the internet where you can visit a visual gallery that is chock full of cartoons featuring the game of chess from the past to the present. You may also find cartoons and caricatures inspired by chess in print as there are many books that not only deal with the strategy of the game, but various aspects such as art, literature and collecting. » Jovan Prokopljevic: A Well Known Chess Artist One such artist who has become renowned for his chess cartoons is Jovan Prokopljevic. Born in 1940, Prokopljevic calls Zemun, Yugoslavia home. He is a renowned chess cartoonist and his work is known around the world. He is a prolific artist and his work is published on a regular basis. Jovan began his career in the art of chess when he attended a chess exhibition. His father was quite good at the game and he attended the exhibition in order to honor his father’s memory. Cartoon art was just a hobby, but then in 1992, he decided to only create cartoons and was soon hired by Politika to be a cartoonist for the paper. He tells us that he can find inspiration for his art in abundance living in Yugoslavia. He is a regular visitor to chess clubs, attends tournaments and plays the game now himself. He feels that the game of chess can be related to many aspects of the human condition and is eager to caricature the seriousness of the game so that chess players and spectators can enjoy a lighter side of the game. » The Humor of the Game Though playing the game and preparing for a match are to be taken seriously, the funny side of chess is in the mannerisms or the expressions of the players in the game. Cartoons of chess seek to show that though the situation may seem grim or dire, there is always humor to be found. Many chess cartoons aim their focus on political situations that can be compared to the game and others poke fun at the very seriousness of the player’s demeanor. Chess is a game that must be learned over time. It is not like checkers where watching once you can figure out the rules. Each piece can only move a certain way and it is up to the chess player to think ahead three or four moves in order to succeed in winning the game. Cartoons that poke fun at the game of chess are often the only lightheartedness that the game allows. |
