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Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall, British, etching 'Ramblings of war' Signed

$550.43
£400
€476.11
CA$767.88
A$778.99
CHF 444.76
MX$9,432.33
NOK 5,235.92
SEK 5,218.54
DKK 3,560.20

About the Item

Vivian Stanshall (British, 1943–1995) Ramblings of War Etching Signed 'Vivian' (on the reverse) 11⅞ x 15¾ in. (30 x 40.2 cm.) frame measurements Provenance: From the artist's estate and thence by descent to his son Ramblings of War is a compelling example of Vivian Stanshall's richly imaginative visual language, combining elements of surrealism, satire and spontaneous invention. Executed with a loose, sketch-like freedom, the composition unfolds as a stream of visual associations in which figures, forms and fragments appear to emerge organically across the surface. The work possesses the dreamlike logic and dark humour that characterised much of Stanshall's creative output, inviting the viewer into a world where absurdity and insight coexist. Best known as the founder and principal creative force behind the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Stanshall was one of the most original artistic voices to emerge from post-war Britain. While his reputation rests largely on his achievements as a musician, writer and performer, visual art remained an important and lifelong aspect of his creative practice. Like his celebrated lyrics and spoken-word works, his drawings and prints reveal a fertile imagination shaped by surrealism, nonsense literature, British eccentricity and a fascination with the subconscious. The title Ramblings of War suggests a meditation on conflict filtered through Stanshall's uniquely idiosyncratic lens. Rather than depicting warfare directly, the etching appears to explore its psychological and imaginative repercussions through a procession of fantastical imagery and seemingly disconnected narratives. This approach echoes the traditions of European surrealism, in which unexpected juxtapositions and free association were used to challenge conventional perceptions of reality. The work's sketchy, improvisational character enhances its sense of spontaneity, as though recording thoughts and visions as they emerge. Stanshall's affinity for surreal humour found its most public expression through the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, whose performances combined visual absurdity, musical experimentation and anarchic wit. Yet beneath the comedy lay a sophisticated artistic sensibility informed by literature, art history and the avant-garde. Works such as Ramblings of War reveal this broader intellectual and creative context, demonstrating that Stanshall's imagination extended well beyond the stage and recording studio. Retained within the artist's estate and subsequently descending through his son, the present etching benefits from exceptional provenance. As a rare original graphic work by a cult figure of British cultural history, it offers collectors a fascinating insight into the visual imagination of an artist whose singular vision continues to captivate audiences decades after his death.
  • Creator:
    Vivian Stanshall (1943 - 1995, British)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11.88 in (30.18 cm)Width: 15.75 in (40.01 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
    Etching
  • Movement & Style:
    Modern
  • Period:
    20th Century
  • Condition:
    In good order, behind Perspex. In a simple white frame.
  • Gallery Location:
    Petworth, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU540318164482

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