Sanjulián

Manuel Sanjulián (Barcelona, 1941). Original pencil sketch for the cover of the novel "Not So Wild a Dream" – Berkley Books (United States) Original signed by the master of illustration Manuel SANJULIAN on the back, next to the title, all handwritten by SANJULIAN. An extraordinary original work by the master of international illustration, Manuel Sanjulián, consisting of the original pencil sketch created for the cover design of the novel "Not So Wild a Dream," commissioned by the prestigious American publisher Berkley Books. We are looking at an exceptional piece that allows us to contemplate the creative process of one of the great illustrators of the 20th century before the final illustration prepared for publication. Unlike a printed illustration or a reproduction, this work constitutes the unique original made entirely by the artist’s own hand, preserving all the spontaneity, freshness, and sensitivity inherent to the moment of creation. The composition shows an intense romantic scene featuring a couple embracing on a rocky promontory facing the sea. The emotional force of the scene contrasts masterfully with the vastness of the coastal landscape, creating an image of great lyricism and compositional balance. Even though it is a pencil-only work, the extraordinary technical mastery of Sanjulián is evident. The expressions of the characters, the anatomical study, the elegance of the folds of the clothing, the lighting and spatial depth reveal the enormous narrative capacity that would later make the artist one of the most admired illustrators in the North American publishing market. One of the most interesting aspects of this work is that it retains the original typography design of the cover, also created by the artist himself, allowing us to appreciate how he conceived the full cover and not just the central illustration. This type of editorial originals is considerably rarer than the finished illustrations, as they represent an earlier phase of the creative process and rarely survive over time. A documentational element of great importance The reverse of the drawing presents a handwritten inscription by Sanjulián himself, in which he clearly identifies the work: BERKLEY "NOT SO WILD A DREAM" SANJULIAN This handwritten annotation constitutes a magnificent identifying element that directly links the original with the editorial commission for the American Berkley publishing house, contributing significant documentary and collecting value. Original works preserved with autograph annotations related to the editorial project for which they were created are especially valued within the international market of illustration art. Technique: Pencil on art paper. Measurements: 39 × 24 cm. Condition: Very good state of conservation, maintaining intact all the graphic quality and beauty proper to an editorial original of its era. The paper shows the natural appearance typical of a work used during the creative process, without affecting in the slightest its extraordinary presence. An especially interesting work for the collector Original sketches probably constitute the most intimate part of an illustrator’s creative process. While the final illustration aims to meet the editorial publication needs, the sketch preserves the freedom, spontaneity and artistic decision of the moment of composition’s birth. In this original it is possible to observe how Sanjulián resolved the overall structure of the cover, the visual balance, the placement of typography and the distribution of masses before the final execution. Therefore, it is a work that allows one to approach the artist’s own creative thinking. Sanjulián’s editorial originals appear increasingly rarely on the international market and are especially sought after by collectors of fantasy illustration, North American editorial art and cover painting. Biography Manuel Pérez Clemente, internationally known as Sanjulián, was born in Barcelona in 1941 and is considered one of the most important living illustrators in the world. After starting his professional career in the early 1960s, he soon began working for the American publishing market, becoming one of the most requested artists by numerous international publishers. His prestige grew extraordinary thanks to the unforgettable covers created for Warren Publishing, especially for Vampirella, Creepy and Eerie, which are today considered authentic icons of fantasy illustration. For more than five decades he illustrated hundreds of covers for publishers such as Berkley, Dell, Ace, DAW, Bantam, Avon, Fawcett and many others, becoming one of the most important European artists in the North American publishing market. His work stands out for the extraordinary mastery of the human figure, lighting, anatomical realism and the narrative force of his compositions. Sanjulián’s original paintings and drawings are part of important international private collections and have been exhibited on several occasions by the Society of Illustrators of New York, one of the most prestigious institutions dedicated to the art of illustration. In recent years his work has been the subject of important monographic publications and retrospectives that have helped solidify his position as one of the great masters of contemporary illustration.

Estimate:£208.37

View all items fromCatawikiorArts & Graphics