the archive of arthur vivian farrar - bernard quaritch...his wife hazel’s chauffeur business. the...

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The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar A life in cartoons

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Page 1: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar

A life in cartoons

Page 2: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

The four incarnations of Farrar

An archive of more than a hundred individual pieces, spanning the course of Farrar’s creative

output, from teenage to old age, the majority of which are original drawings, with further fair

copies of works presented as an autobiography.

Born in 1895 in Halifax and educated in Southport, from a young age Arthur Farrar was a keen

draughtsman and writer; one of the earliest pieces in the collection is a certificate of merit from

The Royal Drawing Society.

Almost exclusively monochromatic, the corpus of Farrar’s work from beginning to end

employs the same basic materials, namely simply pen and ink on plain paper and card, with the

occasional addition of a watercolour wash.

Over the course of his creative career, Farrar was to experiment with a variety of styles,

becoming progressively more reductionist in philosophy, substantially dispensing with shading

and backdrop instead leaving the lines to do the talking. This pared down approach is

particularly evident in his later work. Intriguingly some of his earliest work is the most

innovative, with his works from the 1920s embracing both influences from Victorian-style

caricature, and using block colours and contrast in a way that still appears remarkably modern.

The first piece that sets a clear stylistic precedent for Farrar’s later work is dated 1918, when

the artist would have been 23 years old. From around this point onwards, Farrar was employed

Page 3: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

by the Blackpool Times as resident cartoonist, and his production was prolific, both on subjects

of local and wider political interest, which works are signed AVF. Several of the cartoons

included in the archive come with newspaper cuttings showing the cartoon rendered in print.

At the same time Farrar was actively undertaking advertising work, both for the newspaper

itself, and for other wholly unrelated projects, from savings banks to fly-spray, signing his

works A. Vivian Farrar. Family feeling was also present, with some impressive Tenniel-

inspired theatre programme design for a relative’s dance school production, and trademarks for

his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the

advertising bent, being original artwork for a proposed London underground poster.

Aside from a stint at the Camberwell School of Art in the mid 1920s – sadly only a couple of

life drawings from this period survive in the archive – this dichotomy of creative output was to

continue, and from the 40s onwards Farrar, by now London-based, was producing work in both

categories under the new ‘Viv’ monogram. The artist of the ubiquitous ‘White Heather’

children’s clothing brand (into which advertisements the Viv name was stealthily incorporated

as part of the scenery, Farrar also continued both newspaper and lighthearted cartooning against

the backdrop of war, including an intriguing quick sketch of zeppelins, and contributions to

The Transporter, magazine of the London Passenger Transport Board workers. Though

illustration was to remain his primary focus, he also had literary aspirations, producing several

drawings and series with accompanying humorous verses on a variety of subject matters. The

collection of cartoons presented as an autobiography shows Farrar visiting and revisiting

favourite themes, with a few pieces highlighting stages of his drafting processes as designs

become more sophisticated.

By the 1950s Farrar was additionally employing his skills for more topical ends, becoming a

noted contributor to animal rights publications, a few examples of which are included here,

including ‘Matoa’, a work in celebration of the rights of man and beast both written and

illustrated by Farrar, with the original artwork preserved alongside.

The latest piece in the collection is a written ‘lament, 1972 style, (and really with it – but

keeping it cool, man)’.

The significant majority of the collection is in very good condition, with a few pieces with

light edge wear and traces of old folds. It is preserved in a cloth box.

Far from ever becoming a household name, it is Farrar’s unassuming normalcy that renders

him worthy of attention. Very much the product of his time – there must have been countless

idle cartoonists then whose energies today would be diverted into far less productive pursuits

– the complete archive of his quiet humour and non-nonsense drawings is available for

£3750.

Page 4: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Farrar’s first dated work in a cartoon style

Page 5: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Work likely for The Blackpool Times

Page 6: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

A selection of advertising work

Page 7: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

From the ‘Curiosities at the Zoo’ series

Page 8: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Two variant styles

Page 9: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

One of only two surviving drawings from Farrar’s time at Camberwell

Page 10: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

An unusual item in colour

Page 11: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Farrar in Wartime

Page 12: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

The drafting process in action

Page 13: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Quick sketches

Page 14: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original
Page 15: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Original drawing and finished product

Man and beast, a design that Farrar

reused in several places

Page 16: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

A satire on the below photograph, once published in the Daily Mirror

Page 17: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Words and pictures

Page 18: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Further newspaper work

Page 19: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

Political to the last

Page 20: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

A Rough List

1. Early material

Certificates for drawing 1909

1912 two rose drawings. Pen ink and paint.

Milkmaid pen drawing. Signed AVF 1915.

2. Advertising

Want some petrol, get it yourself. 1918. 153 x 100mm. Pen and ink on paper.

Pen and ink drawings for tailors, hats and boot polish. AVF 1921

Printed versions of The Money Saver, Your Savings Bank, both images incorporating A

Vivian Farrar, one dated 1923.

Various adverts.

3. Camberwell Art School

Life drawings. A. Vivian Farrar, 1925.

4. Cartoons for newspapers

Unsigned:

Yesterdays [sic] traffic. 9cm roundel on a sheet 200 x 245mm. Pen and ink, watercolour wash

on card. Arthur Vivian Farrar, Lichfield Road, Northwood.

A. Vivian Farrar :

10 o’clock closing. Pen and ink on card. 1922

AVF:

1921 Government squandering of resources. Two variants. Pen and ink on paper. A few small

creases.

20 sheets 304 x 248mm. Pen and ink on paper. 1921: Socio-political interest, e.g. John Bull

protecting the unemployed from foreign imports, Blackpool local interest; some with the

printed version.

In the firelight glow 1922

Curiosities seen at the Zoo. 6 sheets. Pen and ink on card. 1924.

The Boston Tar-Baby or ‘Oh Boy – some Guy!’ 251 x 354mm. Watercolour and pencil

under-drawing on thick laid paper. Riverside types seen at Henley. Pen and ink on thick

card. 270 x 178mm. 1929 Cousin Penelope who rivals the graceful antelope

VIV:

Oddities & Objects. Old Faithful bidding a sad farewell to a bright young spark of to-day –

one of our leading lights in fact. 190 x 250 mm. Pen and ink on card. A very little offsetting,

typewritten title taped to verso. Viv monogram in image. A.V. Farrar. Lichfield Road.

Page 21: The Archive of Arthur Vivian Farrar - Bernard Quaritch...his wife Hazel’s chauffeur business. The star item in the archive, dated 1930, is also in the advertising bent, being original

He stood rooted to the spot. He took the words right out of my mouth. Two pencil drawings

on one sheet. VIV 1945.

10 Newspaper cartoons, pen and ink on card, 295 x 235mm. Explanatory text on verso. VIV.

Hawthorn road.

5 sheets, 291 x 228mm on paper, pen and ink drawings, ink verses. 1965. Mr MacJoucan and

the Elephant. Mr MacTelican. Mr Piggott. Not to Wory. Sir Fennimore Puddy Kat.

5. Miscellaneous

If you would be up-to-date you must be Behind-The-Times. Pen and ink on card. 1922.

Terpsichorean Pie. 1923. AVF authored script and program. May Farrar School of Dancing

program. Pen and ink and multiple printed drafts.

1950s animal rights printed drawings

12 cartoons, the drawings for MATOA (2 copies), by AVF, pen and ink on paper.

Explanatory text on verso, 292 x 228mm. VIV

Anti-hunting Cartoon inspired by newspaper photograph.1957

Positively no gambolling allowed 1959. Pen and ink and bright paint.

1971. Postal strike drawings.

6. Wartime

[Zeppelins] Feeding time on a ‘Beer-Beer’ site. 178 x 127mm Pencil drawing on paper. VIV

1943.

The Transporter, magazine of the London Passenger Transport Board workers . Issues June

and July 1941 each containing 2 cartoons signed A Vivian Farrar 1941.

7. Writings

A lament -1972 style (and really with it – but keeping it cool, man).

Through Dreamland on a Bicycle.

8. Autobiography

A folder of fair copies, including examples of Farrar’s work for the White Heather company,

and an illustrated childhood essay.