Laughing Elephant - A Wild Game of Ping Pong

These Cat couples are having an athletic game of ping pong, while their offspring watch and squabble. Eugen Hartung (or Hurtong) (1897-1973) was born in Switzerland. 'In addition to the Mainzer images he apparently illustrated fairy tale and other children's books, notably the childrens song book {Come, Children, Let's Sing} published to promote the Maggi Soup company. He also created several murals in public buildings in Zurich. The Hartung postcards were first published in Switzerland by Max Kunzli of Zurich, printed in continuous tone. From the 1940s through the 1960s, the Alfred Mainzer Company of Long Island City, NY published them in a series of linen and photochrome postcards. They were sometimes referred to as Mainzer Cats.These postcards normally illustrate settings that are filled with action, often with a minor disaster just about to occur.