British artist Gerald Scarfe is one of the world's best-known political cartoonists.
"I Swear" by Gerald Scarfe —
British artist Gerald Scarfe is one of the world's best-known political cartoonists.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe
His distinctive, grotesque political caricatures have earned him comparisons to Dutch draughtsman Hieronymus Bosch.
"The Story of Superman Saving the World" by Gerald Scarfe —
His distinctive, grotesque political caricatures have earned him comparisons to Dutch draughtsman Hieronymus Bosch.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
Scarfe got his start at satirical British current affairs magazines <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.private-eye.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Private Eye</a> and the now-defunct <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.punch.co.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Punch</a> in the '60s.
"Lost in The Brexit Jungle" by Gerald Scarfe —
Scarfe got his start at satirical British current affairs magazines Private Eye and the now-defunct Punch in the '60s.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
Since then, Scarfe's work has appeared in the the Sunday Times and the New Yorker among other titles, and he's been the subject of more than 50 solo exhibitions.
"Two Dodgy Brexiteers Run For It" by Gerald Scarfe —
Since then, Scarfe's work has appeared in the the Sunday Times and the New Yorker among other titles, and he's been the subject of more than 50 solo exhibitions.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
Over the last 60 years, he's drawn the world's most recognizable politicians, from Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher to Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin.
"Another Ice Age" by Gerald Scarfe —
Over the last 60 years, he's drawn the world's most recognizable politicians, from Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher to Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
On April 5, Scarfe is selling more than 120 works at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sothebys.com%2Fen%2Fauctions%2F2017%2Fscarfe-at-sothebys-l17417.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Scarfe at Sotheby's"</a> auction and exhibition in London.
"The Right to Kill" by Gerald Scarfe —
On April 5, Scarfe is selling more than 120 works at the "Scarfe at Sotheby's" auction and exhibition in London.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
One of the sale highlights is an illustration of Winston Churchill from his final visit to the House of Commons in 1964.
"Churchill in the House of Commons" by Gerald Scarfe —
One of the sale highlights is an illustration of Winston Churchill from his final visit to the House of Commons in 1964.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
Scarfe first started drawing as a child, when he spent many years indoors being treated for chronic asthma.
"You Looking For Trouble Arsehole?" by Gerald Scarfe —
Scarfe first started drawing as a child, when he spent many years indoors being treated for chronic asthma.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
"Drawing became my way of expressing myself, getting my thoughts and fears down on paper," Scarfe says.
"The Way Ahead" by Gerald Scarfe —
"Drawing became my way of expressing myself, getting my thoughts and fears down on paper," Scarfe says.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
"And I suppose that's what I'm still doing: drawing things that I fear."
"Maggie as Britannia" by Gerald Scarfe —
"And I suppose that's what I'm still doing: drawing things that I fear."
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
Scarfe, now 80, says he's observed just how repetitive and cyclical politics are.
"Poll Tax and Fuel Tax" by Gerald Scarfe —
Scarfe, now 80, says he's observed just how repetitive and cyclical politics are.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
"We've been through Vietnam, Iraq, the IRA, and now we've got terrorists here again. It's quite repetitive really. We don't really seem to get anywhere," he says.
"Kneel! You Snivelling Bastard" by Gerald Scarfe —
"We've been through Vietnam, Iraq, the IRA, and now we've got terrorists here again. It's quite repetitive really. We don't really seem to get anywhere," he says.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
"There are things like medical science that do advance, but in terms of the human being ... it doesn't really get very far."
"Obama's Polluted Burden" by Gerald Scarfe —
"There are things like medical science that do advance, but in terms of the human being ... it doesn't really get very far."
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
Will Scarfe stop drawing any time soon? Unlikely.
"O.K Johnny - Let's Go Kick Some More Arse" by Gerald Scarfe —
Will Scarfe stop drawing any time soon? Unlikely.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's
"I think I need to do it, therapeutically. If we go on holiday, I'm no good at lying on the beach. So there's that driving force, and I'd hate to lose that," he says.
"Dignity Restored" by Gerald Scarfe —
"I think I need to do it, therapeutically. If we go on holiday, I'm no good at lying on the beach. So there's that driving force, and I'd hate to lose that," he says.
Courtesy Gerald Scarfe/Sotheby's