From the exhibition
Sunday Comic Section — New York Herald
· January 18, 1920

This newspaper page exemplifies how comics evolved from early twentieth-century Sunday supplements into the visual foundation of modern sequential art. The layout combines multiple strips with advertisements, establishing the commercial model that sustained comic production. Early cartoonists developed essential techniques here: panel borders directing eye movement, speech balloons advancing dialogue, and recurring characters building reader loyalty across weeks. The dense composition and reliance on text reflect comics' transition from simple gag strips toward narrative complexity. These newspaper pages—daily and Sunday—functioned as the primary venue for comic art before the 1930s comic book industry emerged, making them the true birthplace of the medium's visual grammar and storytelling conventions.
Public domain, restored and presented by comicbooks.com public-domain