I can’t for the life of me remember when and in what circumstances I first encountered the work of Gus Bofa. But it seems to have been with me for most of my adult life, and although some of those I admired greatly way back then I now view with less enthusiasm in my old age, Bofa is one who has only grown in my estimation. This is not a complete examination of his work, but it is a fairly representative overview, using what decent resolution examples I could track down.
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what a great video Pete!! Incredible how he managed to make his figurines so alive, with what I would call sketches! Many of his finished works isn't as detailed as my first sketches for a drawing is! But that is talent! To show the movement of people without having to detail it too much! I can feel the movements in his drawings, but when his first wife died, it almost disappeared! Love your videos Pete, love from Denmark!!
Fascinating study of an artist's gradual evolution and maturity. You can really envision his mental state at different times in his life reflected in the art and subject matter. Another sterling video, Pete.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank You Pete & a perfect piano score you chose
Thanks, Pete. I can see why his style may be viewed as cartoonish by some but to me that idea misses out so much of what Bofa achieved with such a few strokes.
Bofa deez nuts lmao gottem
Gus bofa was the goat- the greatest of all times, buried under a warehouse of third rate expressionism, journalistic labelism, talentless egoism, a rescue from it all, with an acute sense of human types and their interactions, Goya-esque, full of love, a relief and a tonic, tg for gus bofa.
Thank you Mr. Beard!
I consider myself an educated artist but I confess, I along with most Americans are sadly lacking in the proper education to fathom most of what Mr. Beard is obviously well versed in. But life is for learning. Thank you.
Thank you so much
Very enjoyable introduction to an artist new to me. 👍
Alas, it was not a time (was it ever?) for light and light-hearted humor. But in a very French "theater of the absurd" manner M. Bofa kept his simple line style — even simplifying and de-realizing it still further — as he stared into the abyss. A dangerous course that can rob one of one's sanity, or talent, or public, but he seems to have succeeded in keeping all three!
Brilliant! I’ve rarely experienced so much emotional and intellectual challenge from art work. Thank you Pete. I look forward to more, as / when I have time to fully indulge.
Wow. A complete genius. Every bit as good as Picasso or Miro or Braque. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm not a fan of Bofa. His shading work destroys every piece he applies it to. He clearly had more interest in the simplest of line-work that looks like it was splashed onto the page in a flurry rather than in improving his craft. (I will not confuse him for a deconstructionist or abstractionist, but rather just lazy.) He was a plataued drafter who was comfortable with his skill level as being sufficiently "good enough" to make money.
I have to say that the moniker "cartoonist" is well earned here. Would you say that describing Matt Parker as a "cartoonist" is not fair because he has some non-cartoon works? It was clearly what Bofa was comfortable with and preferred doing.
Very little of his work rises above a five-toed cat.
Oh how we need a Bofa now! The world has gone utterly insane. He would have helped to focus the mind on what is really important. Thank you
Mister Beard.
I discover many artists/illustrators through your channel Pete, and here is another. Thank you!💫
I agree with your comment of not taking cartoon art as seriously as "real" art. The craft of drawing and design is still there in both, but, in many cases, the depth of feeling addressing social issues can be more powerful in cartooning. One of my personal heroes is the American cartoonist Walt Kelly with his famous comic strip Pogo. The strip is silly with anthropomorphic animals but his political commentary is powerful and, in many cases, devastating. As you've shown in other videos, cartoonists, though portrayed as the clowns of art and illustration, show much of the truth in the world with messages easily understood by the common folk. They show the emperor has no clothes easily and simply in the guise of entertaining images. Thanks again, Pete, for this overview of yet another unknown (to me at least) and talented French artist. Always a treat with my morning coffee, especially during these sunny but cold mornings here in Provence. Stay safe!
Proud to be working toward a degree at the Beard College of Illustration. Amazing place!
As always, thank you for your incredibly insightful videos.
Excellent video .. Gus Bofa certainly warrants elevating to a much higher position amongst art pioneers. As I see it, the creative process for his work is no different to that of more respected 'fine artists'.
Great video thanks very much
Guess what? Gus Bofa deez NUTS! Lovely video Pete keep up the good work.
don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it don't think it don't say it
The symphony of Fear should be allowed to become popular again during this current period of crisis in which propaganda from the supranational power networks are imposed on governments along with their corporate media, and to which citizens are increasingly required to submit and which evoke more and more fears and stress. The current years of incremental system breakdown should inspire illustrators and cartoonists, but unfortunately, "thanks" to advanced technology, they can no longer express themselves freely and have to be increasingly careful what they say, write and draw. . . . and think.
Pete, I've been drawing all my life and a couple years ago I started painting, and your videos kept me up every night, I used to watch all of them. My profile picture is actually a pulp cover by Ed Valigursky that I recreated in acrylic.
Anyway I haven't watched in a while and I've actually picked up guitar pretty seriously, so it's been a long time since I've done any art. I am just really glad you're still doing this at such a high level of quality. Thank you for your invaluable contribution to art history and preservation in a sense.
Yeah, more in the line of Anton Pieck than just an illustrator
Once again, you expand my horizons with another brilliant artist. Thank you so much.
Thank you! It s always a pleasure to meet new old artists. Although I am French, I didn't know Bofa before. Your series educate me so much! Many thanks again
How to thank you, again, to make me discover a French unknown artist (to my eyes !)!
Great moments, great images, and the narration is perfect (as usual!).
Also, thanks for Satie 🙂
Another genius with wonderful mastery of light and shadow. Thanks again!
Fascinating!! Thank you!