Ton van Tast was the pen name of Anton van der Valk, a Dutch illustrator, comic artist, caricaturist, water painter and lithographer. His main occupation was drawing satirical cartoons for De Ware Jacob (1904-1910), Paljas (1911), De Groene Amsterdammer, Nieuwe Courant, Hofstad, Uilenspiegel and for the weekly De Vrijheid (1921-1940). He was also the editor of Paljas. He was additionally active as an advertising illustrator and poster artist. Ton van Tast is best known for 'De Daverende Dingen Dezer Dagen', a column in comics format published weekly in Haagsche Post from 1923 to 1948. Shortly after the War, two book collections appeared, which featured the War episodes of the series.
Van der Valk has also made other comics, such as 'Kleine Nederlandse Historiën door de oude Heer Odotus, verlucht met schietprenten van Ton van Tast' and 'Sinterklaas, die goede Heer, komt alle jaren weer' (in Het Sint Nicolaas Boek, 1925). He made educational comics for companies like the PTT and the Gemeentelijke Electrische Bedrijven. Under his own name, he made 'Sindbad, de Zeeman' in 1913.
