Description
This is a new unabridged edition of the two sketchbooks by Heinrich Kley, one of the greatest cartoonists and social satirists of modern times. Kley's drawings combine savage humor that cuts to the bone with unbelievably brilliant draughtmanship. Several of these sketches have been reprinted time and again, and probably everyone has seen at least one. But until now the main body of Kley's work has been almost completely unavailable, and it has been impossible to savor the full richness of his mocking irony. First published in Munich in 1909 and 1910, Kley's sketches reflected the growing tensions of the 20th century and the strong undercurrent of disillusionment that Europe was prey to. His frantic, posturing, iconoclastic brainchildren lash mercilessly at bureaucracy, militarism, false "Gemütlichkeit," the eccentricities of reformers, the ballast of majesty, and many more facets of a weary civilization. Anyone interested in caustic social satire will find that these vivid, unforgettable cartoons are still among the most enjoyable and pungent examples of this art. Kley's bizarre hybrid and bestial forms (in the long tradition of European visionary fantasy exemplified by Hieronymus Bosch, the elder Breughel, and Goya) give them far more depth and levels of meaning than other works in the genre. Kley's imaginative universe and strongly individual style have often been imitated by later artists, but none has captured his acid depths. His nervous line quality and extraordinary technique are still inspirations for artists and cartoonists who want to learn how to draw line figures that practically leap out of the page. -- from back cover.… (more)