The Art of Mickey Mouse: Artists Interpret the World's Favorite Mouse

by Craig Yoe (Editor), Janet Morra-Yoe (Editor), John Updike (Introduction)

The image we have of Mickey Mouse is the classic head and two round ears imagined by Walt Disney sixty-four years ago. What is it about this simple set of interconnected spheres that has made Mickey Mouse one of the most recognized faces in modern history? In The Art of Mickey Mouse, artists, designers, illustrators, and cartoonists from around the world have captured the famous mouse who lives in our collective imagination. Mickey, who throughout his history has been a major figure in film and TV, is here newly incarnated by fine artists such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring, illustrators such as Milton Glaser and Maurice Sendak, and cartoonists such as Charles Schulz and R. Crumb - and even by another American icon, Michael Jackson - into roles both serious and strange, familiar and alien.

Genres: Art, Humor

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Craig Yoe is an author, editor, art director, graphic designer, cartoonist and comics historian, best known for his Yoe! Studio creations and his line of Yoe! Books. Yoe is married to Clizia Gussoni, who is also his creative partner

Reviews

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another of those books where the cover tells you almost everything you need to know about it. Any description of the contents seems almost redundant.

Unsurprisingly, the book consists of many works of art in various media, all inspired by Mickey Mouse. There are cartoonists and comics artists, sculptors and painters, illustrators, animators, and digital artists, all brought together by this common theme. Some of them you’ve undoubtedly heard of: Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jack Kirby, Maurice Sendak, Robert Crumb, Moebius, Charles Schulz … Well-known or obscure, much of this work is fascinating. “Mickey Mouse” seems like such a simple theme, but there are infinite possible variations.

I’m impressed with the lack of pretentiousness. I mean, it's an art book, and the Introduction is written by John Updike. This could easily have turned into a High Art snob fest. But there's a cheerful, welcoming tone to the whole affair. Craig Yoe and Janet Morra-Yoe have assembled an eclectic group of artists, and, after a brief Foreword, they have enough sense to get out of the way and let the works speak for themselves.

On the whole, the book is light on text, and heavy on gorgeous artwork. Recommended!

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty cool art and some unusual choices. I'm particularly fond of Jack Kirby's version.

[RoseBlight · Rating 5 out of 5]

May be a little generous to give this beautifully produced coffee table book a 5 but...what else could you ask for in a book like this? We have a very wide breadth of "outsider artists" all working in very different styles. From fine art, pop art, cartoonists, children's illustrators, etc, all given room to depict the ever preeminent cartoon mouse.

Lovely little read especially if you take interest in the alternative art space of the late 80's through the 90s. So many names both familiar and un-, some discoveries here felt like revelations to the design languages of the late 90's and early aughts.

[Desire Manara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una antología pop con una interesante diversidad de miradas. Liberen al ratón!!

[Fugo Feedback · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como este libro es chiquito y fácilmente transportable, se convirtió en lo último que me puse a leer en 2010 y lo primero que termino en 2011. Después de una introducción bastante nutrida en info pero un tanto condescendiente, le siguen un centenar de obras originales de distintos artistas alrededor del mundo. Algunos van a lo fácil y otros sorprenden por su originalidad, pero en conjunto forman un cuerpo artístico muy interesante y variopinto. Además, entre las obras se ven tanto interpretaciones de lo más chupamedias e idolizantes hasta críticas que van de la parodia chistosa a una sátira política políticamente incorrecta, si se me perdona la aliteración. En resumen, es un libro que le puede interesar incluso a aquellos que no tuvieron infancia y que merece, al menos, ser ojeado u hojeado, según el sentido capital que le quiera dar cada lector/observador.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a unique collection of work, with, what was contemporary artists at the time of publication, looking at the image and idea of Mickey Mouse and Disney as a corporation and their effect on modern America. Some of the artists look with rose colored glasses. Others incorporate Mickey as an after thought. Still others look on with distain. Each brings their own voice to the conversation that I feel most people would have at least some perspective or opinion on. The book itself feels partially contrived, as if seeking to cover all bases without thesis, or simply including art only because it has Mickey in it, no matter what the artist produces without a critical curatorship. The introduction by John Updike is on point and very appropriate.

[Gijs Grob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A colorful art book containing a collection of artworks inspired by Mickey Mouse, including art by a.o. Charles M. Schulz, Michael Jackson(!), Ward Kimball, Ever Meulen, Robert Crumb, Jack Kirby, Maurice Sendak, Moebius, and several works by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Gary Baseman. Most works are clearly from the 1980s, and only a handful are really interesting as artworks. An enjoyable collection, nonetheless.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of artwork by various artists, all in the theme of Mickey Mouse. It's fun to see the different interpretations of such an iconic image.

[Anne Vongnimitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

one word "classic"

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

great interpretations of the worl's most famous mouse, ranging from the beautiful to the very bizarre

[Del Lunde · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a fun book.

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traducción de Aurora Echeverría.
Diseño original: Yoe-Yoe Studio.
Impreso por Industria Gráfica Domingo.

Lo conseguí en lo de JulAr muy barato hace añares.

[Emery Schmidlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is so exquisite and it talks about the history of Mickey Mouse and the making of him.if you like art and Disney I recommend this book.