Vogelmen Diaries
The Melton Prior Institute presents 'Special Artists'
17 Nov 2012 - 27 Jan 2013
Robert Weaver, from: "A Pedestrian View / The Vogelman Diary, 1982
Thomas Nast, Let us prey, Harper's Weekly, 23. September 1871
An exhibit of prints, illustrations and editorial drawings
featuring Thomas Nast, Robert Weaver, Theo de Feyter, Stefan Heller, Saul Leiter, Susan Turcot, Émile Cohl, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Constantin Guys, Monogrammer R.D., Theodor Kaufmann, Fritz Koch-Gotha, Monogrammer A.H., Paul Hogarth, Willibald Krain, Eugen Krüger, Melton Prior, Joseph Pennell, Lili Rethi, Theodor Rocholl, William Simpson, Paul Renouard, Albert Robida, František Kupka and Thomas Walch
The exhibition “Vogelmen Diaries” aims to show a large and diverse selection of works from the Melton Prior Institute's rich collection of graphic art. Founded in 2005 by artist Alexander Roob in cooperation with art historian Clemens Krümmel, the Melton Prior Institute is devoted to preserving and furthering research in the international history of reportage art.
The exhibit showcases the work of press artists from the collection, and examines specifically how they filled multiple roles as journalists, caricaturists, ethnologists, political activists and authors. In the early days of print culture, these artists were called “Special Artists” or “Our Artists” because their work spoke directly to the public. By depicting current events and displaying political engagement, the “Special Artists” brought art into the public sphere and developed a contextual art practice that remains influential today.
Central to the exhibit is the work of American caricaturist Thomas Nast (1840-1902) and illustrator Robert Weaver (1924-1994). On view is for the first time the original version of Weaver's famous 1982 illustrated poem “A Pedestrian View/The Vogelman Diary,” which inspired the title of the show.
In conjunction with the exhibit, a full reproduction of Weaver's book with accompanying text is being published by Kettler Publishers.
Supported by Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn.
featuring Thomas Nast, Robert Weaver, Theo de Feyter, Stefan Heller, Saul Leiter, Susan Turcot, Émile Cohl, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Constantin Guys, Monogrammer R.D., Theodor Kaufmann, Fritz Koch-Gotha, Monogrammer A.H., Paul Hogarth, Willibald Krain, Eugen Krüger, Melton Prior, Joseph Pennell, Lili Rethi, Theodor Rocholl, William Simpson, Paul Renouard, Albert Robida, František Kupka and Thomas Walch
The exhibition “Vogelmen Diaries” aims to show a large and diverse selection of works from the Melton Prior Institute's rich collection of graphic art. Founded in 2005 by artist Alexander Roob in cooperation with art historian Clemens Krümmel, the Melton Prior Institute is devoted to preserving and furthering research in the international history of reportage art.
The exhibit showcases the work of press artists from the collection, and examines specifically how they filled multiple roles as journalists, caricaturists, ethnologists, political activists and authors. In the early days of print culture, these artists were called “Special Artists” or “Our Artists” because their work spoke directly to the public. By depicting current events and displaying political engagement, the “Special Artists” brought art into the public sphere and developed a contextual art practice that remains influential today.
Central to the exhibit is the work of American caricaturist Thomas Nast (1840-1902) and illustrator Robert Weaver (1924-1994). On view is for the first time the original version of Weaver's famous 1982 illustrated poem “A Pedestrian View/The Vogelman Diary,” which inspired the title of the show.
In conjunction with the exhibit, a full reproduction of Weaver's book with accompanying text is being published by Kettler Publishers.
Supported by Stiftung Kunstfonds Bonn.