Gerald Scarfe

Gerald Scarfe
Name	Gerald Scarfe
Birth date	1 June 1936
Birth place	St John's Wood, London, England
Nationality	British
Education	Royal College of Art
Occupation	Cartoonist, illustrator, animator
Spouse	Jane Asher (m. 1981)
Known for	Political cartoons, animation for Pink Floyd

Gerald Scarfe is a prominent British cartoonist, illustrator, and animator renowned for his savage and grotesque satirical drawings. His career, spanning over six decades, has been defined by acerbic political commentary for publications like The Sunday Times and groundbreaking animation work for Pink Floyd. Scarfe's distinctive style, characterized by distorted, often monstrous figures, has made him one of the most recognizable and influential satirists in the United Kingdom.

Early life and education

Born in St John's Wood, London, Scarfe suffered from severe asthma as a child, which confined him to bed for long periods and fueled his early passion for drawing. He attended St Martin's School of Art before completing his formal education at the Royal College of Art. His time in National Service with the Royal Air Force provided further material for his developing satirical eye, an experience that sharpened his critique of authority and bureaucracy.

Career

Scarfe began his professional career in the early 1960s, contributing cartoons to magazines like Punch and Private Eye. His big break came in 1966 when he joined The Sunday Times, where his weekly political cartoon became a fixture for over four decades, lampooning figures from Margaret Thatcher to Tony Blair. Parallel to his print work, he expanded into television, creating animated sequences for the BBC series The Great War and the title sequence for ITV's That Was The Week That Was. His most famous cinematic collaboration began with Pink Floyd, designing animations for their 1977 tour and the subsequent film Pink Floyd – The Wall, where his grotesque creations became iconic. He has also directed for the stage, including a production of The Magic Flute for the English National Opera.

Style and influences

Scarfe's style is immediately recognizable for its brutal, exaggerated distortion, often rendering political leaders and public figures as monstrous, bloated, or mechanized creatures. He cites the visceral graphic work of Francisco Goya, particularly The Disasters of War, and the nightmarish illustrations of George Grosz as major early influences. His technique, primarily using pen and ink and watercolor, emphasizes fluid, chaotic lines that convey movement and grotesque energy. This approach stands in stark contrast to the more restrained tradition of British cartooning represented by David Low or John Tenniel.

Notable works and collaborations

Beyond his prolific newspaper output, Scarfe's notable projects are highly diverse. His animation for Pink Floyd's The Wall film, particularly the sequence for "Goodbye Blue Sky", remains a landmark in music visualization. He authored and illustrated numerous books, including Scarfe by Scarfe and Drawing Blood, which collect his political and social satire. His stage design for The Magic Flute at the London Coliseum showcased his visual style in an operatic context. Furthermore, his television work includes the acclaimed series Scarfe on Sex and the Christmas animation The Plank.

Personal life

Scarfe has been married to actress Jane Asher since 1981, and the couple has two children. He maintains a relatively private life away from the public figures he skewers, residing in London. His long-standing relationship with Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters has been both professional and personal, stemming from their collaborative work on The Wall.

Awards and recognition

Scarfe's contributions to art and satire have been widely honored. He is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and a senior fellow of the Royal College of Art. In 1989, a major retrospective of his work was held at the Tate Gallery in London, a rare honor for a living cartoonist. His work is held in the permanent collections of institutions like the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Category:British cartoonists Category:1936 births Category:Living people