Robert Crumb at the Whitechapel Art Gallery

I’m making an effort to go and see a few Exhibitions around the place to inspire me a bit. The second one yesterday was the Robert Crumb exhibition at the Whitechapel gallery, which also only has a day or two to run. Robert Crumb, for those who don’t know was a hero of the alternative comic scene in the USA from the 60s onwards and is very highly regarded amongst cartoonists. I have to say that I’d not recommend everyone go and see this show as some of the work really is rather offensive – “Crumb has chronicled our basest desires for 40 years” says this interview from the Guardian.

However, the man is very very good and there is much that any cartoonist could learn whatever they might think about some of the material (and it really is only some of the material). The figures, shading, light and dark and the overall quality of the work is superb. And once again, a video that went with the exhibition helped put things into context.

Mick Hartley has more to say about Crumb, including a link to comments by Times cartoonist Peter Brooke.

OK, time to practice my cross-hatching…