Fun Things to Do

Private Eye: the first 50 years

At the V & A - 18 October 2011 – 8 January 2012

‘At last. Private Eye makes an art of itself.’ Ian Hislop. Find out more about the magazine that has made a name of itself in more ways than one.

The V&A is putting on a display celebrating 50 years of Private Eye. Since it was founded in October 1961, the magazine has distinguished itself from other titles with its unique combination of humorous cartoons and satire with hard-hitting journalism.

Exploring artistic talent

This display will explore the wealth of artistic talent that the magazine has fostered by showing the original artwork for some of the finest and funniest Private Eye cartoons. Overits 50-year history, Private Eye has published and promoted the work of more than 90artists, many of whom started their careers at the magazine, including Gerald Scarfe, Ralph Steadman, William Rushton, Barry Fantoni, Nick Newman, Michael Heath, John Kent and Ed McLachlan.

The illustrations will be shown in thematic sections on politics, royalty and social observation. They are richly varied in style and tone and take the form of singlecartoons with captions, long-running strips and caricatures.

Editor's choice...

Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye, has chosen 50 of the best of the trademark front covers, one from every year the magazine has been published. The front covers will be arranged in a timeline, offering a graphic satirical history of the news over five decades.

Visually, Private Eye is renowned for its low-fi aesthetic. The cut-and-paste production
technique and overall look have changed little in over 50 years, despite the switch from
cowgum to computers and letraset to the internet.

Evoking an atmosphere

Private Eye: the first 50 years will evoke the atmosphere of the magazine's Soho office, with a recreation of the editor’s paper-strewn desk. There will also be seldom-seen ephemera from the magazine’s past campaigns and court cases, as well as a life-sized cut out of Tony Blair, a stuffed dog, a flying Robert Maxwell and a giant inflatable banana.

For more information:

"Private Eye: the first 50 years" is on display in the V&A’s Studio Gallery from
18 October 2011 to 8 January 2012

Admission to the display is free

Please call 020 7942 2000 or visit www.vam.ac.uk

A book entitled Private Eye: the first 50 years by Adam McQueen

Published by Private Eye on 12 September 2011 to mark their 50th anniversary year.

Images on this page are subject to copyright and are used with the kind permission of the V&A in association with the Private Eye: the first 50 years

Private Eye Cartoon

'You know, I think you're right', Cluff, 1990
V&A’s display Private Eye: the first 50 years