Drawing Blood: Forty Five Years of Scarfe Uncensored [Hardcover]

Gerald Scarfe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

Artist, stage designer, political cartoonist, and satirist, Gerald Scarfe has given us some of the most famous and controversial images of the 20th century. During a prolific career that spans more than four decades, he has worked with an eclectic mix of English and American icons: from Pink Floyd to Disney, Private Eye to Time, The Sunday Times to The New Yorker. This, the first collected volume of his work in more than 20 years, showcases the works that have established him as one of our foremost cultural commentators. From the whiplash satire of his political cartoons to his harrowing portraits of the Vietnam War, and from his spectacular set designs to his many contributions to films, this spectacular visual memoir offers an astute and irreverent view of the personalities and events that have shaped modern times.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

British satirist Scarfe is a master of the caricaturist's art of breaking down a subject's physical elements and rebuilding them in a stylized manner to portray the subject with a slant. Chronicling his long and storied career, this volume confirms that no person or subject, from 1960s icons like the Beatles right up through Eminem and George W. Bush, is off limits to Scarfe's shockingly revealing distortions. Grotesquely exaggerated (especially when depicting the sex organs), Scarfe's drawing style at first brings to mind the tripped-out work of Ralph Steadman, but Scarfe's keen eye for detail, his fidelity to each subject and his unique sense of overcrowded space set him distinctly apart. Scarfe follows a chronological path through his varied involvement in the political realm, stage production, film and rock and roll (most notably in collaboration with Pink Floyd on The Wall), working both on paper and in papier-mâché. Short critical texts, newspaper clippings and contemporary ephemera round out Scarfe's personae, and his running commentary provides insight into specific drawings and events. This much-deserved retrospective presents a panoramic view of the career of a popular artist who has helped shape how we see an overwhelming and often unkind age. (May 15)
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Review

“Over–flowing with black–and–white and color drawings, watercolors, and photographs, it documents his lengthy and controversial career.” -- Library Journal

“his commentaries on the political actors, events, and controversies through which he lived will inform and amuse the reader.” -- Library Journal

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316729523
• ISBN-13: 978-0316729529
• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 10.2 x 13.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alot more than what I paid for, October 11, 2009

By 

Jason M. Lichten "bass man" (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drawing Blood: Forty Five Years of Scarfe Uncensored (Hardcover)

For the book I received, I would expect to pay 3 times the amount that I paid for

this book.Not only a complete biography of the artist, but also a gallery of all

of his illustrations.I would recommend this to anyone who would like to learn more

about the man beyond the Pink Floyd years. I did!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece, April 17, 2011

By 

Karl hungus - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drawing Blood: Forty Five Years of Scarfe Uncensored (Hardcover)

I bought this book because I am a huge fan of Mr. Scarfe's work on Pink Floyd's The Wall. However, I had no idea how large his catalog was outside of the Floyd projects. Not only is this book awesome to flip through pages just looking at the art, but it is also a great read. It offers an autobiography about his young life as a child and budding artist, and also provides history and context to many of the featured pieces. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys his Pink Floyd work, and also to anyone who has got a taste for dark art.

I do feel it is necessary to state this some of Scarfe's art is very vulgar, whilst it is all used in a literary manner -- to caricature certain figures or tell stories, some people may find his art offensive. I will state, though, not once does Mr. Scarfe attack or deface any cultures or creeds of people. He only uses vulgarity to state his opinion on certain matters such as political leaders or government policies.

I hope that all other buyers enjoy this book as much as I do.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent buy, March 11, 2011

By 

Balletomane - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drawing Blood: Forty Five Years of Scarfe Uncensored (Hardcover)

This is a comprehensive volume of Scarfe's work which is well produced and a very good read.The colour plates are informative and as an overall survey this is an excellent introduction to what he is on about which is often to not take prisoners.Hold back on lampooning politicians he does not and it's clear why he has had such a long and notable career in satirical cartooning. His book on his contribution to Pink Floyd's The Wall also makes a good companion piece.Both highly recommended.