R Crumb United States, b. 1943
Untitled (Page from Art & Beauty Magazine, Number 3, 2016), 2013
Ink and correction fluid on paper
29.2 x 21.5 cm
11 1/2 x 8 1/2 in
11 1/2 x 8 1/2 in
A pioneering and controversial graphic artist, Robert Crumb (b.1943) is famed for his work in San Francisco’s underground comics scene of the 1960s, where he redefined cartooning as a countercultural...
A pioneering and controversial graphic artist, Robert Crumb (b.1943) is famed for his work in San Francisco’s underground comics scene of the 1960s, where he redefined cartooning as a countercultural art form with characters such as Fritz the Cat, The Snoid and Mr. Natural. In the 1970s and 80s, his grotesquely sexualised depictions of women drew accusations of sexism and racism, though others argued that such work satirised popular culture and negative societal attitudes. These four drawings are from Crumb’s Art & Beauty Magazine, named for a 1920s soft porn publication. The series is filled with full-figured women beloved by Crumb, depicted in scenarios ranging from the erotic and lascivious to the modest and candid, with some accompanied by commentaries and quotations from famous artists. Rendered in Crumb’s distinctive graphic style with bold lines and intricate crosshatching, the compositions question society’s shifting notions of beauty and propriety regarding the female form.
Provenance
The artist
David Zwirner Gallery, London