Francesco Munari
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Ironic bestiary

Animals out of context: a hippopotamus with a cigar, a zebra with a lollipop, an elephant in a tutu. Naturalistic drawing meets surreal play.

The series includes 11 drawings, among them Hippopotamus with a cigar, Zebra with a lollipop, Elephant in a tutu, Tiger and rose, Rhinoceros and rose, Bull in high heels, Wildebeest with dentures and Chick and tennis racket.

Hippopotamus in profile with a lit cigar between its lips and a thin trail of smoke. Grey hatched skin and a pinkish eye on a softly shaded white ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Hippopotamus with a cigarHippopotamus in profile with a lit cigar between its lips and a thin trail of smoke. Grey hatched skin and a pinkish eye on a softly shaded white ground.
Zebra in profile with its mouth open, reaching for a pink and white spiral lollipop. Bold black stripes on a pale grey ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Zebra with a lollipopZebra in profile with its mouth open, reaching for a pink and white spiral lollipop. Bold black stripes on a pale grey ground.
Asian elephant in profile, in grey tonal shading, wearing a bright pink tutu around its body. The contrast between bulk and costume creates the irony. White ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Elephant in a tutuAsian elephant in profile, in grey tonal shading, wearing a bright pink tutu around its body. The contrast between bulk and costume creates the irony. White ground.
Tiger (Panthera tigris) roaring with open jaws beside a pink rose with green leaves. Orange and black hatching on a light ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Tiger and roseTiger (Panthera tigris) roaring with open jaws beside a pink rose with green leaves. Orange and black hatching on a light ground.
White rhinoceros in profile, in grey tonal shading, with a long-stemmed red rose resting on its horn. The flower is the only touch of colour. Light ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Rhinoceros and roseWhite rhinoceros in profile, in grey tonal shading, with a long-stemmed red rose resting on its horn. The flower is the only touch of colour. Light ground.
Long-horned bull in grey hatching, wearing a pair of pink high-heeled shoes. The shoes are the only colour. Pale grey ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Bull in high heelsLong-horned bull in grey hatching, wearing a pair of pink high-heeled shoes. The shoes are the only colour. Pale grey ground.
Wildebeest head with pale horns and brown-grey fur, fitted with a large pink and red set of dentures in place of its mouth. Coloured hatching on a light ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Wildebeest with denturesWildebeest head with pale horns and brown-grey fur, fitted with a large pink and red set of dentures in place of its mouth. Coloured hatching on a light ground.
Yellow chick balancing on the rim of a tennis racket with a blue and grey frame. Softly blended colour on a pale bluish ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Chick and tennis racketYellow chick balancing on the rim of a tennis racket with a blue and grey frame. Softly blended colour on a pale bluish ground.
Two hornbills with large yellow and orange bills, beside a coloured glass table lamp on a black shelf at left. Coloured hatching on a light ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Hornbills and lampTwo hornbills with large yellow and orange bills, beside a coloured glass table lamp on a black shelf at left. Coloured hatching on a light ground.
Hornbill with a large yellow and orange bill and a red eye, looking at a metal ashtray floating at lower left. Coloured hatching on a pale grey ground. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Hornbill and ashtrayHornbill with a large yellow and orange bill and a red eye, looking at a metal ashtray floating at lower left. Coloured hatching on a pale grey ground.
Bird with a long curved bill and brown and cream plumage, gripping a gold coin in its talons. Another coin stands on a small dark table. Drawing by Francesco Munari.
Bird and gold discBird with a long curved bill and brown and cream plumage, gripping a gold coin in its talons. Another coin stands on a small dark table.