Eugene Karlin, 84; Artist’s Work Ran in Fortune, Esquire

Eugene Karlin, 84, illustrator for such magazines as Fortune and Esquire and fine artist whose work has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, died Thursday of unstated causes in Laguna Woods. Born Dec. 15, 1918, in Kenosha, Wis., and reared in Chicago where he studied art at Hull House, Karlin began his career as a staff illustrator at Fortune in the 1940s. After establishing himself as a freelancer, he contributed pen-and-ink drawings and other graphic art to a variety of magazines including the New Republic, Town & Country, Seventeen, Architectural Forum, Sports Illustrated and Playboy. He also illustrated books and album covers.

In addition to his pen and pencil sketches, Karlin created works in tempera and oil, pastels and ceramic. His works have been shown at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Corcoran Gallery, the San Francisco Museum, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Laguna Art Museum.

Karlin taught at several art schools, including Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, Cooper Union Art School, the School of Visual Arts and the Workshop School of Advertising and Editorial Art.