Robert Crumb

It's somewhat unfortunate that Robert Crumb will most likely be best remembered for his complete and utter fetish for gals with big rumps and thick powerful legs, but it's not like it's anyone's fault but his own as this type of "subject" is the most noticeably prevalent aspect in his body of work. On the other hand, for those of us who have gone beyond perusing his internet images, let's face it, it's generally his stories that have less of a focus on his sexual fantasies that are usually the most compelling. Of course Crumb can draw like an unstoppable force of nature, but somehow Crumb lucked out and is equally yoked with a natural penchant for story telling. His life and his yarns always feel genuine and unencumbered by pretense or the self conscious trappings of stylistic intentions, AND they are actually interesting and humorous. Crumb was the man that brought the entire underground comix movement into view to the world at large, but it was by way of almost sheer talent and very little efforts directed towards marketing and other such capitalistic mumbo jumbo (at least not by him). To put it simply, people like his stuff. We find him. Crumb is an honest and insightful story teller and one hell of an artist, but he isn't one to hold back when a buxom amazon with a powerful butt floats through his brain. Rest assured, she will be put to paper.







I enjoy Crumbs occasional use of a heavier brushed look as seen here in the story "Footsy" taken from the collection "The Weirdo Years, 1981-91", published in 2013.



Color often detracts from Crumb's work, but it seems to work well here.

Crumb is a true aficionado of early blues and early recorded music in general, with an extensive rare record collection. This is one of his earliest images addressing the subject.

A two page story from the "The Robert Crumb Coffee Table Book". Crumb's early years with his brother Charles who was the driving force behind Crumb becoming the cartoonist he is today.

Mr. Natural doing his thing as only he can do it.


An image taken from "Kafka" a biography written by David Zane Mairowitz and drawn by Crumb


Crumb recently surprised everyone when he illustrated the entire book of Genesis. I was surprised to see how well executed this effort was. It's a relatively straight interpretation and the illustrations were as true to form as everything else Crumb has done. I didn't expect to be as entertained by it as I was.


There are few artists who can do sketchbook drawings like Crumb, where not only do his images show his skills, but also have such a seemingly effortless use of genuinely interesting narrative.