A few months ago when I was surveying a few of Ronald Searle's lithographs in anticipation of his March 3 centenary, I set aside Oops! (1974) for Earth Day, which is April 22. Searle's humor packs a serious environmental message. The image is a bold one with an insistent one-point perspective. I see New York in it although the signage is perhaps more European. The lithograph is printed right out to the edge of the sheet. Seen in person it's impressive, even overwhelming.
An unintended consequence of my choosing this particular image for today is that it has a completely different resonance at this moment in time than it did just two months back. The empty cityscape has become a haunting reality all over the world as we shut down our economies and stay at home in an attempt to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. Searle's no-holds-barred riff on grotesque urban overdevelopment remains valid but it may be sending us a mixed message right now: that we'd nevertheless give anything to be out there with the lost rabbit and a few friends to enjoy a night on the town.
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| Ronald Searle Oops! Hors commerce aside from the edition of 99, 1974 |
An unintended consequence of my choosing this particular image for today is that it has a completely different resonance at this moment in time than it did just two months back. The empty cityscape has become a haunting reality all over the world as we shut down our economies and stay at home in an attempt to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. Searle's no-holds-barred riff on grotesque urban overdevelopment remains valid but it may be sending us a mixed message right now: that we'd nevertheless give anything to be out there with the lost rabbit and a few friends to enjoy a night on the town.
Note: The year 2020 is Ronald Searle's centenary. For now, let's celebrate at home.
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