The Comic Art of Norman Lindsay

Selected by Keith Wingrove

Published by Angus & Robertson Publishers, Australia, 1987

First Edition - with the dustjacket

An excellent copy - brand new condition

With more than 500 illustrations throughout by Norman Lindsay.

Norman Lindsay’s unique and enduring talent expressed itself in a wide variety of media, ranging from portraits to model ships, from book illustrations to war posters and, of course, prolific illustrations and cartoons for the Bulletin, where he worked for almost 50 years, and its monthly magazine, Lone Hand. The Comic Art of Norman Lindsay brings together for the first time 500 of these cartoons and joke illustrations, selected by Lindsay’s friend, Keith Wingrove.

Lindsay was fascinated by the vast range of human personality and the variety of life, and this fascination is the basis of his comic drawings. His characters, in their appearance, expression and setting, reveal his whimsical and perceptive humour and his amazing eye for detail. They encompass a broad social range from the larrikin to the well-to-do suburban matron, from naughty children to the struggling man on the land. His Bulletin drawings also preserve a record of Australian life from the turn of the century to after World War II – long-forgotten figures such as the Chinese vegetable man, the “bottle-oh”, the swaggie and the bullock driver live on in his work.

Norman Lindsay’s delightful sense of irony is also revealed in his clever, vital animal drawings, which warrant a separate section in this book. Each feature individual expressions and characteristics, and convey the foibles of human personality at which Lindsay gently poked fun. Included, too, are several of his humorous verses, as well as examples of illustrations in which he captured the essence of other people’s verse.

The Comic Art of Norman Lindsay will delight not only admirers of Lindsay’s work, social historians and art lovers, but is sure to introduce his extraordinary talent to a new generation of Australians.

In black cloth hardcover in 266 pages, with titles in white along the spine, with the dustjacket. The Dustjacket: There is the very lightest of shelfwear. There is no foxing. There are no creases, tears or chips. There is the usual uneven sunning. The Book: There is no shelfwear at all. There is no foxing. There are no previous owners' names or inscriptions. All plates are pristine - bright, fresh and crisp. There is no sunning. There are no missing, loose, creased, damaged, or stained pages. The spine and binding are solid. It is complete and original.

Measures 22cm x 30cm (8.75" x 11.75"") and weighs a significant 1.3 kilograms (2.8 pounds) unpacked.