The Salon (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Salon is a graphic novel
written and illustrated by Nick Bertozzi
. Originally published in installments on the website serializer.net in 2002, it was eventually published in its entirety by St. Martin's Press
in April 2007.
, surrounding the birth of the Cubism
art movement. Someone is murdering various painters, and a group forms to solve the mystery. Fictionalized characters include Pablo Picasso
, Georges Braque
, Gertrude Stein
, and Erik Satie
.
said the novel was executed "with wit and flair. The Salon was named on the Publishers Weekly list of best comics of 2007.
. While Picasso was a fan of William Randolph Hearst
's comics, there is no historical evidence that they influenced his art. Bertozzi said of the comic, "Researching the personalities in The Salon led less to historical accuracy in terms of dates and places, but more, I feel, to an emotional reality".
by comic store owner Gordon Lee
. The compilation was given to a child, whose parents reported the incident. Lee was soon charged with two counts of "distributing material depicting nudity or sexual conduct" and five counts of "distributing obscene material" to a minor. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
noticed the case, and provided Lee's defense. Over $100,000 was spent, and the case was dismissed in April 2008.
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
written and illustrated by Nick Bertozzi
Nick Bertozzi
Nick Bertozzi is an American comic book writer and artist, as well as a commercial illustrator and teacher of cartooning. His series Rubber Necker from Alternative Comics won the 2003 Harvey Awards for best new talent and best new series. His project, The Salon Nick Bertozzi (born May 26, 1970)...
. Originally published in installments on the website serializer.net in 2002, it was eventually published in its entirety by St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in the Flatiron Building in New York City. Currently, St. Martin's Press is one of the United States' largest publishers, bringing to the public some 700 titles a year under eight imprints, which include St. Martin's Press , St...
in April 2007.
Plot
The story is set in 1907 in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, surrounding the birth of the Cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
art movement. Someone is murdering various painters, and a group forms to solve the mystery. Fictionalized characters include Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
, Georges Braque
Georges Braque
Georges Braque[p] was a major 20th century French painter and sculptor who, along with Pablo Picasso, developed the art style known as Cubism.-Early Life:...
, Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein was an American writer, poet and art collector who spent most of her life in France.-Early life:...
, and Erik Satie
Erik Satie
Éric Alfred Leslie Satie was a French composer and pianist. Satie was a colourful figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde...
.
Reception
The Salon has been praised for its "rich personalities" and "brilliant premise". Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
said the novel was executed "with wit and flair. The Salon was named on the Publishers Weekly list of best comics of 2007.
Historical accuracy
A scene in the book shows Picasso taking inspiration from a comic to complete a portrait of Gertrude SteinGertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein was an American writer, poet and art collector who spent most of her life in France.-Early life:...
. While Picasso was a fan of William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst was an American business magnate and leading newspaper publisher. Hearst entered the publishing business in 1887, after taking control of The San Francisco Examiner from his father...
's comics, there is no historical evidence that they influenced his art. Bertozzi said of the comic, "Researching the personalities in The Salon led less to historical accuracy in terms of dates and places, but more, I feel, to an emotional reality".
Controversy
An excerpt of The Salon containing a nude depiction of Picasso was included in a compilation called Alternative Comics No. 2 in 2004. The compilation was given away as part of a promotional event in Rome, GeorgiaRome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
by comic store owner Gordon Lee
Gordon Lee (comic store owner)
Gordon Lee is an American comic book store owner from Rome, Georgia, who is most famous for having been charged with distributing obscene material to a minor in connection with the Free Comic Book Day on Halloween, 2004. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was heavily involved in Lee's defense...
. The compilation was given to a child, whose parents reported the incident. Lee was soon charged with two counts of "distributing material depicting nudity or sexual conduct" and five counts of "distributing obscene material" to a minor. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a United States non-profit organization created in 1986 to protect the First Amendment rights of comics creators, publishers, and retailers covering legal expenses....
noticed the case, and provided Lee's defense. Over $100,000 was spent, and the case was dismissed in April 2008.