Why is Don't Let The Bastards Cheer You Up important?

Miller was originally concerned about potential copyright infringement when it came to adapting the exact design of the dust jackets. However, Penguin Random House instead commissioned him to make a new series for their offices around the globe, perhaps recognizing how Miller’s take on their books might have a similar effect on their brand as Andy Warhol’s did for Campbell’s Soup cans. The chairman of the international publishing house, John Makinson, has expressed the following admiration for the series:

How do I buy a Don’t Let The Bastards Cheer You Up print?

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How can I sell my Don’t Let The Bastards Cheer You Up print?

If you're looking to sell art by Harland Miller, click the link and we can help. We employ a number of techniques and practices in order to give a realistic and achievable valuation on any art listed on myartbroker.com. We analyse the demand for the work in question, take into consideration previous sales and auction valuations, we assess the current gallery valuation and monitor the current deals taking place via MyArtBroker every day. We regularly advise sellers on a price bracket for their artwork completely free of charge.

Don’t Let The Bastards Cheer You Up by Harland Miller Background & Meaning

Don’t
Let The Bastards Cheer You Up

Instantly recognisable as one of Harland Miller’s iconic Penguin classics works, begun in 2001, the title of this series plays on the old saying “Don’t let the bastards get you down”. While triggering a ring of familiarity, Miller's edit is deliberately provocative and in keeping with his wit.

Meaning & Analysis

First produced as a watercolour and screenprint in 2009, Don’t Let the Bastards Cheer you up epitomises Miller’s wittier takes on well-known phrases. Instantly recognisable as one of his Penguin Jackets, (first produced in 2001) Don’t Let The Bastards Cheer You Up triggers a ring of familiarity whilst being deliberately provocative. When asked where the titles from his books originate from, Miller says “nowhere in particular. Everywhere, anywhere.”

“I realised that the design of those classics would throw all the focus on the title of the book, which is exactly what I wanted to do.(…) People are so used to the format already with the text in the middle that you could really say whatever you wanted.”

In terms of their artistic style, the Penguin prints are influenced by both Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism, infused with the conceptual aspect of the written word. Miller is interested in Pop Art’s ideas of challenging authenticity and overriding authorship, as we see in this work which features Miller as the author.

Miller was originally concerned about potential copyright infringement when it came to adapting the exact design of the dust jackets. However, Penguin Random House instead commissioned him to make a new series for their offices around the globe, perhaps recognizing how Miller’s take on their books might have a similar effect on their brand as Andy Warhol’s did for Campbell’s Soup cans. The chairman of the international publishing house, John Makinson, has expressed the following admiration for the series:
"What I love in Harland’s work is that, although it’s obviously his take on the Penguin design heritage, it is amazingly true to the spirit of the Penguin cover. They’re sardonic, playful, ironic… but they’re mostly rather beautiful images.”
Miller’s book cover works have become hugely desirable with collectors. His work is also found in the private collections of established celebrities and corporate collections. In much the same way that revolutionary paperbacks themselves were sought after in the 1930s and ’40s, Miller’s works have adopted a similarly desirable collectability today, occupying a significant place in the contemporary art marketplace and the artist himself staking his name within the trajectory of hugely successful and important British artists.
If you're looking to sell art by Harland Miller, click the link and we can help. We employ a number of techniques and practices in order to give a realistic and achievable valuation on any art listed on myartbroker.com. We analyse the demand for the work in question, take into consideration previous sales and auction valuations, we assess the current gallery valuation and monitor the current deals taking place via MyArtBroker every day. We regularly advise sellers on a price bracket for their artwork completely free of charge.