T. H. Townsend

He made his living selling pencils and stationery in a Washington, D.C. shop where politicians and printers rubbed elbows. The back room doubled as his print studio, so he spent evenings carving linoleum blocks while customers waited for ink and paper upstairs. You’ll spot his work in the H Beard Print Collection, tiny, witty scenes of city life that look like early cartoons, full of hats, handshakes, and the occasional startled dog.

Tap on any print and you’ll see why his sharp lines and dry humor still feel fresh today.