Review
Robert Crumb, world-famous illustrator and definite pervert, got his start in the underground comics scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book is a collection of his best work from the last 50 years (it’s got kids stuff, too, which is pretty fascinating). The volume is a welcome reminder that, screwed up as Crumb may be, he’s also a tremendously talented, utterly original artist. He artistically embodies a certain segment of the ’60s, and as that fades even further into history, Crumb’s material becomes more important. Is The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book funny? Yes, certainly, in a coarse, Rabelaisian way; you’ll either find it a hoot, or horribly racist and sexist. [Read More...]
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October 15th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
There’s an illustration on the back cover of The R. Crumb Coffee Table Art Book that perfectly encapsulates the artist’s work - it depicts the top of Robert’s head exploding, with several of his creations, famous, infamous, and otherwise, leaping out.
That, to me, sums up Crumb’s work - this incredibly inventive artist with, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, a head full of ideas that are drivin’ him insane.
There are frequent complaints about Crumb’s work being too dark, racist, sexist, and/or misogynistic. While I can see where these criticisms come from, I really don’t think Crumb is any darker, more racist, sexist, or misogynistic than any of us - he simply is unafraid to - COMPELLED to, almost - lay his cards on the table. Some people find this offensive. Would it be absurd of me to suggest that some of those who are offended by his work have their own issues with sexism, racism, and/or misogyny that they are unwilling to confront?
What I’m trying to get at here, I guess, is that this IS NOT a book for little kids. There’s a sticker on the front of my copy of the book that says “FOR ADULT INTELLECTUALS ONLY!”, and while I’m not so sure about the “intellectuals” part, this is probably not a book you want your grade-school age child to get ahold of, unless you’re okay with said child seeing depictions of graphic (and I do mean GRAPHIC) sex, hard-core drug use, and extreme (albiet cartoonish) violence.
I realize all I’ve spent all this space talking about Crumb without ever really discussing what I like about his work. I think there’s two main things: (1) his unflinching honesty (as I touched upon earlier), and (2) the incredible beauty of his draftsmanship. I think my favotite chapter in the whole book is the one that features his pen-and-ink still-lifes and landscapes. Just beautiful stuff - worth studying for his use of cross-hatching alone.
In conclusion, if you’re at all interested in checking out the work of one of the finest artists to ever work in the comics medium, I highly recommend you get this book. It’s easily worth the 25 bucks.
Oh, yeah - and it DOES make a wonderful coffee table book.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Having followed and collected R. Crumb’s work since the sixites, I was delighted when I received this book as a Christmas gift. Much of the work included will be familiar to fans, although some of the early pieces included help illustrate the progression of his career. What I found most wonderful, though, were his essays on his own work and life, the things that influenced him. While the documentary, Crumb, gives us a rather lurid and skewed look at his family and past, it’s intriguing to read what he has to say about his own evolution as an artist. And make no mistake, comic books are art. I was especially fascinated to see how his work changed with the advent of psychedelics into his life. The small commentary drawings throughout the book make reading it an adventure. There is always more to see just when you think you’ve found it all. The hardboiled spirituality of Mr. Natural juxtaposed with the foolishness and naivete of Flakey Foont just has to make you laugh and appreciate the fact that this odd genius of pen and ink still retains a basically sincere interior despite the crusty coveringand cynical pose. This is an excellent addition to a comic collector’s library and a rare look at a protrait of the artist by himself.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Ever since I saw the movie “CRUMB” I’ve been hooked on his artwork. I agree with his idea: no matter how sick or disturbing and idea you have, you should get it out into the open anyway. Be free to express yourself. I’m not endorsing pornography and drug use, which are both evident in his work, but I still say he’s one of the great artists who just never got the attention he deserved.