Robert Caby, [Collection of Surreal Drawings], c. 1920

Robert Caby

[Collection of Surreal Drawings], c. 1920

Pen & ink (21) and pencil (3)

4 drawings approx. 10 ½ x 8 inches, 20 drawings approx. 7 x 6 inches or smaller
With “Robert Caby” estate stamp, 5 with signature.

$ 2,400.00

Robert Caby, [Collection of Surreal Drawings], c. 1920

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In addition to his poetry, writing about art and politics, his music compositions, and his work as a dealer of rare books and paintings, Robert Caby (1905–1992) was also an...

In addition to his poetry, writing about art and politics, his music compositions, and his work as a dealer of rare books and paintings, Robert Caby (1905–1992) was also an accomplished visual artist in his own right, producing a trove of surreal illustrations. The present images, in keeping with much of his work, are somehow mischievous, capturing a playfulness and curiosity, a willingness to blend the observed with the impossible.

Largely simple line drawings with minimal shading, Caby nonetheless shows a natural and comedic eye for detail. Consider the illustration of a humanoid figure standing with arms raised next to a bare tree, and the care that Caby has put into including leg hair on the back of his calf muscle. The larger illustration of three women on a mountain, their upper bodies replaced by tall water vases, somehow captures a haughty air that a realistic portrayal would struggle to convey. Most of the present pieces favor round forms and shapes, with angles standing in sharp contrast to their surroundings.

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Robert Caby

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