50 Years of Private Eye

50 Years of Private Eye

By: Sharlene on October 20, 2011

To mark the 50th anniversary of the notorious magazine Private Eye, the V&A will hold a display looking at this particularly British phenomenon.

It will explore how the magazine has used graphic satire and humour to accompany serious investigative journalism. Since it was founded in 1961, Private Eye has employed generations of great British cartoonists.

The display will highlight contributions by many of the talented and influential artists most closely associated with the magazine including Willie Rushton, Ralph Steadman and Gerald Scarfe.

It will also feature a timeline of the famous ‘speech-bubble’ covers and an evocation of the private Eye editor’s office overflowing with papers, artwork and press clippings.

private eye covers

We’ve not had a chance to go along and have a look yet, but have it on good authority that fully-grown adults have been seen ”standing about chuckling aloud” at the display.