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Geronimo

Poster
1967 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of a set of drawings and printed images in the V&A's collection by artist John Hurford. Hurford was one of the key figures in the explosion of psychedelic imagery in Britain in the late 1960s. His drawings, mainly executed in pen and ink and enlivened by brilliant washes of coloured inks, were reproduced as posters and illustrations in the leading Underground publications of the day, including Oz, IT and Gandalf's Garden.

Hurford's meticulously and minutely-particularised drawing style was coupled with his fascination with natural plant and tree forms. They gave his work a direct appeal to the hippy generation, who either aspired to get back to the simpler country life or who, as city-dwellers, nurtured a romanticised dream of rural existence.



Object details

Category
Object type
TitleGeronimo (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Printed on architect's blueprint copying machine.
Brief description
Poster 'Geronimo', by John Hurford, England, 1967.
Physical description
Image of a head of a Native American man within a circle. Behind the man's head is a landscape with trees, and smoke drawn in outline. Behind the circle is a feather drawn mostly in outline except for the top, which has detail and shading. Below the circle hang three feathers. Below is the word Geronimo composed of outline lettering, pattern of wavy lines, concentric circles and stripes, and figures including stars, snakes, a flying saucer in silhouette, a castle on a hill and ivy.
Dimensions
  • Sheet height: 62cm (irregular)
  • Sheet width: 75cm (irregular)
Marks and inscriptions
  • GERONIMO (Decorated lettering, below centre.)
  • John / Hurford (Bottom left with the 'M')
  • GERONIMO (Outline leters within the 'N')
  • IUUO (Outline letters within the 'N')
  • ELECTRIOCITY (Within the 'I')
  • PRESS THIS BUTTON (Within the 'M')
Credit line
Given by the artist
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is one of a set of drawings and printed images in the V&A's collection by artist John Hurford. Hurford was one of the key figures in the explosion of psychedelic imagery in Britain in the late 1960s. His drawings, mainly executed in pen and ink and enlivened by brilliant washes of coloured inks, were reproduced as posters and illustrations in the leading Underground publications of the day, including Oz, IT and Gandalf's Garden.

Hurford's meticulously and minutely-particularised drawing style was coupled with his fascination with natural plant and tree forms. They gave his work a direct appeal to the hippy generation, who either aspired to get back to the simpler country life or who, as city-dwellers, nurtured a romanticised dream of rural existence.

Collection
Accession number
E.365-2010

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2011
Record URL
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