Richard Hamilton

Screenprint in colours with silver foil collage, 1972, signed in pencil, numbered 50/150 (the total edition includes 15 artist's proofs), printed by the artist and Chris Prater at Kelpra Studios, London, published by Petersburg Press S.A. for the National Council for Civil Liberties and Release, on Hodgkinson mould-made paper

The full sheet, in good condition apart from the sheet very slightly tones and the occasional pale fox mark in margin only visible upon close inspection, a minute half-moon shaped broken crease in lower left image (approx. 1.5cm), occasional soft scuff marks and rubbing in black background, silver foil with minor scuff marks, occasional soft handling marks, a remains of adhesive at some places along extreme sheet edges recto and two horizontal bands of adhesive along upper sheet edge verso, with minor cockling, framed. (A vertical printer's crease at lower sheet edge at centre).
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Release by Richard Hamilton depicts Mick Jagger and art dealer Robert Fraser – nicknamed ‘Groovy Bob’ – during their claustrophobic ride to court on 28 June 1967. Hamilton wanted to capture the motif of political concern through the medium of art and that is exactly what Release represents. The photographic half tone was used to further emphasise the documentary source of the image. Hamilton stated: “I had felt a strong personal indignation at the insanity of legal institutions which could jail anyone.” This perfectly encapsulates the late 1960s and projects Hamilton’s mournful war cry which lashes out against the moral backlash to the liberalisation of the 1960s.