Chris K. :: VALENTINA

Crepax, Guido - Valentina, Vita Privata (1975)

Artist: Guido Crepax (All)

10 Comments - 867 Views - 8 Likes

Crepax, Guido - Valentina, Vita Privata (1975) Comic Art

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Crepax, Guido - Valentina Torre di Londra (1967)

Artwork Details

Title:	Crepax, Guido - Valentina, Vita Privata (1975)
Artist:	Guido Crepax (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	867
Likes on CAF:	8 9
Comments:	10
Added to Site:	10/20/2022
Comic Art Archive:

Description

And now for something completely different!

A Guido Crepax (July 15, 1933 – July 31, 2003) page from what many consider his signature work/character – Valentina. She’s widely known and loved in the world of European comics. As an aside, ‘Crepax’ is Guido’s pen name – his given last name was Crepas.

Anyway, inspired by his fascination with silent screen star Louise Brooks (Valentina’s look and hairstyle are drawn from Brooks’ in the silent film, Pandora’s Box), Italian comic artist Crepax created Valentina Roselli in 1965. She has an actual birthdate (December, 25, 1942) and ages throughout her life on the page, which is not insubstantial as her first story ‘La Curva di Lesmo’ (referring to a curve of the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monza) sees print in 1965 and her last one, ‘La Zattere, Venice’ is in 1980 (a final character appearance is made in 1996). Originally a minor character working for fellow comic character Neutron (also known as her boyfriend, Philip Rembrandt), Valentina became the focus of the series in 1967.

Valentina works as a fashion photographer in Milan. She’s strong, independent and her stories sometimes border on reality and fantasy. Her character evolution and stories reflect the movement of Italian art and comics away from censorship & modesty towards expressions of sexual freedom in the 1960’s. Combined with Crepax’s unique layouts and panel designs, it made for a time of unique visual storytelling.

One thing to note is that, while the page is striking and unique in several ways (heck, the third panel was used as the cover for one of the Valentina collected editions), it’s not a representative piece of Crepax’s pioneering panel design. As an aside, a good friend, Jeff Singh, once asked Chris Ware if Crepax was an influence on his panel design & layouts. Without hesitation, Ware agreed and commented on what an innovator Crepax was. Which is a long way of saying I’m going to need another one of his pages!

This page is from Vita Privata, which first saw print in 1975. The story is sort of a diary of Valentina moments as she remembers fragments from earlier stories (staged differently on this page with different moments across the timeline of her life). The art is oversized at 14 x 20 inches on heavy board.

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About the Owner

	Chris K. Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	August 2008
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Chris's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 10/20/2022

This is a nice page, Chris, and boy do you have a lot of things to blame Jeff for! 😆

Chris K.
Member Since 2008

2 - Posted on 10/21/2022

Ruben DaCollector wrote:

This is a nice page, Chris, and boy do you have a lot of things to blame Jeff for! 😆

That damn Jeff!

Tommy Kohlmaier
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 10/20/2022

Another highlight in your incredible and huge collection and it's quite unusual to see such relatively unknown (but highly exquisite) European art like this in an American CAF member's gallery, so keep on.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 10/20/2022

Fine work that CAF needs more of! It has a nice photorealism in precision and proportions to celebrate the natural female form. Certainly more mature and comfortable with sexuality than mainstream comics audiences in the states during the 70's and maybe even today.

Ron S
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 10/20/2022

Another addition to the museum of quality comic art....

Davide G.
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 10/20/2022

Wonderful page by the Italian master, with iconic images of his beloved Valentina. The 3rd panel alone is worth the price of admission!

Jeff Singh
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 10/21/2022

Beautiful page with Crepax's unique style on full display. Not enough people give him the recognition he deserves and write him off as pornography before looking at what he was really doing which was changing the language of comics.

DC's Showcase
Member Since 2006

1 - Posted on 10/21/2022

Top to bottom gorgeous, another classy addition to your spectacular collection! I'm not sure I've seen a better portrait of Valentina, and look no further than the Lulu image within that portrait panel for yet another twist on Crepax' pioneering panel design. I'll miss her :)

Nick - Barry - Matt - Hal - Namor
Member Since 2015

1 - Posted on 10/21/2022

Incredibly beautiful page! Congrats Chris!

Bill J
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 12/19/2022

Stunning Valentina page by the incredible Guido Crepax. The layout on this page is gorgeous! I love the contrast between the bottom left panel with Valentina svelte and the bottom right with her pregnant. Beautiful linework with crisp, sharp inks! Congrats!

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