Hanging Loose 1972

Robert Peak made this illustration, “Hanging Loose,” and its style points to the late 1960s and early 70s. It seems to capture that era’s spirit of social liberation through its depiction of counter-cultural fashions and free-flowing forms. Peak was a successful commercial artist, but his style borrowed heavily from the avant-garde art of the previous decades, such as Surrealism and Pop Art, styles that often sought to challenge the status quo and the traditional art establishment. The influence of Pop Art’s flattened planes of color and the flowing forms of Surrealism create a feeling of freedom and spontaneity. Illustrations like “Hanging Loose” were not just commercial products. They reflected a broader cultural shift towards greater individual expression, and a rejection of the more rigid social norms of the past. Further research into fashion trends, counter-cultural movements, and the history of commercial art during this period would help us understand this artwork's role in reflecting a specific cultural moment.