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Oh Calcutta Michael English Artwork 1969

Original Michael English finished painted artwork (24"x 33" overall) for "Oh! Calcutta!" (1970), this previously the property of the West End impressario & producer of "Oh! Calcutta!", Michael White. The artwork consists of airbrush & watercolour & has been framed & glazed.

 

Michael English is one of Britain's most famous psychedelic artists. Together with Nigel Waymouth, English formed the design team "Hapshash & The Coloured Coat" (1967-69) producing a number of hugely collectable concert posters for artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd & The Who. In the 1970's, English developed a style of hyper-realist illustration based on his airbrush painting. His posters/prints fetch high prices but do appear from time-to-time but examples of his original artwork like this are rare. An image of this artwork appears in the Michael English book "3-D Eye" (1979).

 

"Oh! Calcutta!" was an avant-garde revue featuring various sketches & with a high degree of sexual content including full-frontal male & female nudity. Created by the British theatre critic Kenneth Tynan, the revue included contributions from the likes of John Lennon, Samuel Beckett & Edna O'Brien. After premiering in America in 1969, it opened in London in 1970 & although highly controversial, ran for almost 4,000 performances.

 

This artwork was originally owned by the producer Michael White & there is a sticker on the reverse from a Fine Arts Storage Company which indicates this. Apart from "Oh! Calcutta!", Michael White also produced "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (play 1973 & film 1975) & the film "Monty Python & The Holy Grail" (1974).

 

It is not known whether Michael White commissioned this piece himself or whether it was a gift to commemorate "Oh! Calcutta!". The marketing campaign (posters/flyers/programmes) for the production utilised & adapted the Clovis Trouille artwork "O Quel Cal T'as" (ie, "oh what a lovely bottom you have") & the Michael English illustration re-orientates this & increases the nudity factor.


This item is sold without copyright, reproduction rights, licensing rights or any other kind of legal release.

 

The artwork is currently framed & glazed but if required like this MUST be collected. Otherwise it will be extracted from the frame & a supplementary P&P charge will be required.


NB. This item is simultaneously being offered via http://www.moviepostermem.com/



Price: £2245.00

Artist: Underground, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Beatles
Year: '1969
Category: 50 - 60's / Rock
Format: Artwork
Condition: Excellent
Reference: 70627



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