Sons of Anarchy – Comic Book Cover 2020

Curator: Wow, there's such a stark sense of space and muted anticipation in this piece. It's the comic book cover for Sons of Anarchy, dating to 2020, crafted by Robert Sammelin. Editor: Anticipation is right. It feels almost… elegiac? The muted colors, the vast sky, the somewhat forlorn figures on that imposing motorcycle. It's like they’re facing something monumental, or running from it. Curator: Sammelin's style really marries modernism with this hard-edged comic theme. He's chosen this almost desaturated palette which feels, yes, sorrowful. I think it really suits the mood, amplifying this sense of isolation against the industrial-feeling background with its utility pole and stark lines. It also speaks volumes about the original TV show it's based on. Editor: Exactly! It captures that essence of the series: the freedom of the open road juxtaposed with a heavy atmosphere of responsibility, and the crow perched on the utility pole, overseeing, judging almost. Does this blend of romantic freedom and fatalism reflect anxieties about contemporary society or is it a nostalgic look at old archetypes of masculinity? Curator: Possibly both. Comic covers exist at this nexus of commerce and artistry. So, in one breath, this cover sells you the thrilling narrative while in the other it sells you the archetype of the “biker.” The gaze of both the man and woman is turned outward; both dare to address the public and that creates the connection. You could interpret it as a desire for, maybe even demand for, autonomy against increasingly surveilled surroundings. Editor: A compelling point, especially when the visual shorthand so closely echoes cinematic modes and popular series on streaming. We should never forget just how influential art responding to pop-culture actually is, since mass art like comics are for many their first point of reference to 'fine' art! I think that, here, this interplay of visual style and thematic weight transforms the artwork into something so much more affecting. Curator: Well said, it’s certainly a layered piece and rewards some serious contemplation. Editor: Definitely gives me something to ponder, seeing as the mythic biker seems an increasingly paradoxical figure in today’s society.