J. Edgar Honker (Waterfowl watercolor)

Artist: Carl Barks (All)

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J. Edgar Honker (Waterfowl watercolor) Comic Art

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Artwork Details

Title:	J. Edgar Honker (Waterfowl watercolor)
Artist:	Carl Barks (All)
Media Type:	Paint - Watercolor
Art Type:	Commission
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	779
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	3
Added to Site:	6/20/2018
Comic Art Archive:

Description

There's not so many Barks' Waterfowl watercolors presenting his contemporaries, actually there is only one known persons who lived in 1970s. He was J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972, heading FBI 48 years) and the painting is this "J. Edgar Honker".
Barks called those paintings as "Famous Figures of History as They Might Have Looked Had Their Genes Gotten Mixed with Waterfowl"

This watercolor painting is having Barks' code 19-78, it's from year 1978, having (standard) size 20cm x 25cm (8" x 11"). Still on its original metal frames by Barks and having also metal sign presenting the painting and his name. (I don't know why Barks changed into metal frames after finished Disney Duck oils; those in completely different style, in decorative wooden frames).
I bough this painting with the help of Barks, when visited there in Grants Pass in 1990, asked if he knew any small painting for sale. And he gave hint about this art, then owned by Bill Grandey & Kathy Morby (who later came his agents, and I am not saying more about that).

"Animal Quackers" book wrote about it: J. Edgar Honker is the most recent real personality in the series, "so contemporary he was hardly a figure of history". says Barks. Knowing what we do now of J. Edgar�s spy network and wire taping, he is as sinister as many of the other, more remote frontier and mythic subjects in this series. This is the one painting that touches on actual political themes with its chilling 20th century graffiti, symbols more hackle-raising than amusing.

This is not the most cheerful subject. However presenting spying technology of its time, it is still very relevant topic.

About provenance: Barks sold this at 160$ in 1978 to Don Ault (http://www.cbarks.dk/thepaintingpaymentsnon1978.htm), then 2nd owner from 1983 was Bill Grandey & Kathy Morby and from 1990 in my collection.

And one more anecdote, there was another contemporary person he made in 1979, he is presented the painting "The Diligent Headhunter" (Barks� code 7-79). Animal Quackers tells it was requested by a businessman who wanted to announce just how he gave the business to his competitors. But in Grants Pass in 1990, when Barks presented me photos showing all his Faterfowl paintings, he told that this headhunter painting was ordered by a person whose profession was as headhunter! I mean not in a jungle, but recruiting corporate executives. Maybe on someday we will know more about it...

#CarlBarks; #J.EdgarHoover

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About the Owner

	Matti Eronen
Joined:	March 2017
Last Login:	January 2026
Website:	http://Illusi0n.com
Country:	FINLAND
On CAF:	Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Monty B
Member Since 2006

Posted on 6/20/2018

Lovely piece Matti...congrats!!!

Alex P. Goofmann
Member Since 2012

Posted on 6/20/2018

fantastic artwork, congrats Matti :-)

S�ren M
Member Since 2008

Posted on 6/21/2018

Wonderful with a different example of Barks art :-) Congrats, Matti.

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