The work, begun in 2004, was originally intended as a parody of the first book of the bible. Originally thinking that we would do a take off of adam and eve, crumb became so fascinated by the bibles language, a text so great and so strange that it lends. His books include the book of genesis illustrated by r. Crumb, crumb acknowledges his awareness that the project was a potentially contentious one.
In october 2009 crumb released the book of genesis illustrated by r. He lives in the south of france with his wife, the artist aline kominsky crumb. The book of genesis illustrated by crumb, first edition. A first look at robert crumbs the book of genesis books. Peeling away the theological and scholarly interpretations that have often obscured its most dramatic stories, r. Crumb has been criticised by religious groups such as the christian institute in britain. Excerpts from the latest longawaited masterpiece, by one of the great wise men of graphic novels. Now, readers of every persuasion can gain astonishing new insights from these stories.
Crumb resists the temptation to exaggerate the texts most strange or sordid aspects. Crumbs monumental the book of genesis illustrated john shore christian blog and commentary on. And its great to have you today on talk of the nation. Robert crumbs straight retelling of genesis lacks his trademark humour. Crumbusing the actual text word for wordhas imagined the bible as it really was. Crumb, crumb acknowledges his awareness that the project. Peeling away the theological and scholarly interpretations, r.
Crumb portrays him in the splash page that begins his muchanticipated adaptation of genesis in comicbook form as crumb sees his own father. David zwirner books the book of genesis illustrated by r. The eagerly awaited graphic work retells the first book of the bible in a profoundly honest way. Crumbs newest work, an illustrated version of the book of genesis, contains a warning label. Us cartoonist robert crumb has announced the completion of his longawaited take on the book of genesis, an illustrated rendering of the first 50 chapters of the bible.
Such was the approach of cartoonist and illustrator robert crumb, who took on illustrating the entire book of genesis, a text so great and so strange, he says, that it lends itself readily to graphic depictions. The book of genesis, by comparison, comes across as the fruits of indentured drudgery. From creation to the death of joseph, here are all 50 chapters of the book of genesis, revealingly illustrated as. His research and commentary at the end of the book is just as thorough, engaging and enlightening as the pages of genesis. Crumb, the legendary illustrator, reveals here the story of genesis in a profoundly honest and deeply moving way. Genesis is easily as long as most shakespearian plays. His hyperdetailed style is a perfect match for the translation he uses, veering between stilted and bizarre and unexpectedly beautiful. In the book of genesis illustrated, he depicts it all, from the creation of the world to the death of joseph. The book of genesis 2009 is a comic book illustrated by american cartoonist robert crumb that purports to be a faithful, literal illustration of the book of.
The book of genesis illustrated will appeal to people of many faiths, and for good reason. Crumb a complete bible reference study library 4 in 1. The book of genesis illustrated biblical archaeology society. A first look at robert crumbs the book of genesis books the. Crumb is the author of numerous comic works and one of the pioneers of underground comics and arguably one of the most famous cartoonists in history. First serialized in the new yorker, this graphic work is now available in a collected edition. The exhibition features 207 individual, black and white drawings incorporating every word from all fifty chapters, as well as a cover, title page, introduction and back cover. Crumbs pass at the opening chapters of the bible isnt nearly the act of heresy the comic artists reputation might suggest. The book of genesis 2009 is a comic book illustrated by american cartoonist robert crumb that purports to be a faithful, literal illustration of the book of genesis. The book of genesis illustrated npr coverage of the book of genesis illustrated by r. Download robert crumb book of genesis pdf free shared files from downloadjoy and other worlds most popular shared hosts. The book of genesis as imagined by a veteran voice of underground comics.
In the short video above, crumb describes the creation narrative in the ancient hebrew book as an archetypal story of our culture, such a strong story with all kinds of. In the foreword to the book he claimed it to be his most faithful visual interpretation of the book. Crumb illustrates the bible underground comic legend r. A signed and numbered limited edition, slipcased and with a signed print.
No bar reader is unfamiliar with the book of genesis, at least in its broad contours. Being a fan and collector of r crumb and his wife aline kominsky crumb i bought this book primarily to add it to my collection. Crumb illustrates the book of genesis fast company. Its the book of genesis from a new angle, and the illustrations serve to make the work all the more accessible to all, no matter where they stand on the validity of the original work. Crumbs book of genesis is crumbs second solo showcase at new yorks david zwirner gallery and includes a handful of. Having also read various translations of genesis numerous times i was very curious how crumb would present this work of significant cultural and religious value. Artist jeffrey vallance will lead a walkthrough of the bible illuminated. Envisioning the first book of the bible like no one before him, r. Catholic, holy bible the illustrated book of bible lists illustrated bible handbook series the book of genesis illustrated by r. Other articles where the book of genesis illustrated by r. Crumbs book of genesis the hammer museum presents seminal comic artist r. Nominated for three 2010 will eisner comic industry awards.
New signed the book of genesis illustrated robert crumb r. However, as crumb delved deeper into the source material, he decided to adhere to the literal text to create. The book of genesis, illustrated common sense atheism. Crumb, it is worth noting that he is well known as an underground artist, whose works of which fritz the cat is probably the most widely recognized feature satire and sexuality with a distinctive artistic style. It seems wholly inappropriate for what is essentially gods rescue plan for mankind. In his serious graphic rendering of the bibles first book, r. Crumb, using the actual text work for work, has imagined the bible as it really was. The book of genesis is considered crumbs magnum opus and took over 4 years to complete. Crumbs adaptation of the first book of the old testament, the book of genesis. Crumb, the legendary illustrator, retells the story of genesis in a profoundly honest and deeply moving way. Crumb has spent the last five years on this incredibly ambitious endeavor. Crumb s adaptation of the first book of the old testament, the book of genesis.
The book of genesis illustrated by robert crumb is a bracingly vivid illumination of one of the worlds best known stories in which the sacred is seen through routine glasses, through the base and lurid lens of. Crumbs heavy cross hatching style works really well in this comic book and he illustrated each panel with so much care and details. He lives in the south of france with his wife, the artist aline kominskycrumb. Taking the book of genesis, bringing it to life with his amazing drawings and a savvy analytical mind, he has created a fresh vision of one of our civilizations oldest books.
Crumb, the legendary countercultural artist of the 60s, is that is straightforward and nonironic, each part treated with equal respect and attention. Robert crumb joins us now from a studio at kqed, our member station in san francisco. Sweeney november 23, 2009 if you are above a certain age, you probably havent looked at a. It is turning the bible into titillation, said mike judge, of institute, a religious think tank.
And yes, there are books in the bible that dont even take up 3 full pages. In his thoughtful and articulate introduction to the book of genesis illustrated by r. Crumb, the legendary illustrator, reveals here the story of genesis in a profoundly honest and. Us cartoonist robert crumb has announced the completion of his longawaited take on the book of genesis, an illustrated rendering of the first. Actually seeing roughly what the bible says happened reveals the myth and violence of it in a way that christians may. Perhaps the strangest thing about this comic book version of the book of genesis, illustrated by r. Crumb discusses his process of illustrating and satirizing the book of genesis while purporting to be a faithful. Crumb has put the entire text of the best known book of the bible into a graphic work.