Hubris Corpulentus - portfolio of 10 engravings

 

Art Hazelwood

  1961 - PRESENT (biography)

2003  

engraving 

various 

pencil, beneath each image 

19 of 25  

pencil editioned beneath each image 

 

heavyweight cream wove 

published 

artist 

ARHA105 

$2,000.00 

A portfolio of ten engravings addressing war and politics as the U.S. prepared to invade Iraq. A poignant and timeless visual commentary on the price paid by citizens of both the wagers and the targets of war.

From the artist's website: "'Hubris Corpulentus' is a state of obscene, overweening pride that produces monstrous realities out of the stupor of irrationality.

"After it became clear that nothing would stop the US march to war in Iraq, and my sense of frustration mounted, the only course that seemed open was to channel despair into small concise statements. Engraving seemed like the best way to focus. It is a laborious process: a method of cutting a metal plate with tools to create an image. The minuteness, obsessiveness and control required were the perfect match for my wish to focus anger at details of this monumentally hubristic war.

"I did not presume to portray the photographic reality, nor the horrors of war. My experience is limited in this regard to news consumption. I focused instead on the metaphorical and satirical nature of the enterprise. "Liberty Brought to Baghdad" portrays a bound and blindfolded lady liberty, roughly treated by troops dragging her off to her newly intended. "The Four Horsemen" portray the classic four figures of death, war, pestilence and famine striding above the globe while below insignificant peace protesters march in ant-like swarms."