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Design

1968 (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
Materials and techniques
Black Indian ink on white paper on white board.
Brief description
Drawing for the cover of 'Galdalf's Garden' magazine, issue 2, by John Hurford, England, 1968.
Physical description
Image representing an owl's face, showing two round eyes surrounded by an abstract landscape setting, also featuring an owl bottom left, a flower to the right, and two wizards (top right and left). A patch of black ink representing a lake or river doubles as the owl's 'beak'. The image is mounted onto a board and the line drawing continues onto the board. The text is collaged on.
Dimensions
  • Height: 32cm
  • Width: 37.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • fear not - for you are now entering / issue / 2

    Note
    Top right.

  • 3/-

    Note
    Price top right.

  • John / Hurford

    Note
    Lower right centre.

Credit line
Given by the artist
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.375-2010

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2011
Record URL
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