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Few artists working today capture the zeitgeist of social and political unrest as viscerally as Robert Longo. Renowned since the 1980s as a founding figure of the Pictures Generation, Longo returns with a new publication that both expands on—and intensifies—the powerful legacy of his charcoal drawings. Robert Longo: Charcoal Volume 2 offers a commanding visual journey through the artist’s 2012-to-present oeuvre, meticulously printed and handsomely bound in half linen, creating a physical object that rivals the monumental scale of Longo’s work.



A Continuation of a Monumental Project

Serving as the sequel to Charcoal (2011), this second volume forms a comprehensive compendium of Longo’s more recent series, including Death from Above (2012–16), Hungry Ghosts (2015–17), and The Destroyer Cycle (2016–20). Together, the two volumes stand as perhaps the best single resource on Longo’s charcoal practice, illustrating his singular commitment to pushing the limits of charcoal drawing. The large format and tritone printing on natural paper grant an astonishing clarity to Longo’s hyperrealist strokes, which transform everyday imagery—whether an angel’s wings or a looming cityscape—into searing commentaries on power and fragility.

Hyperrealism that Confronts Today’s Existential Questions

Longo’s images have always carried a certain cinematic grandeur, a quality that resonates even more potently in this new collection. Each drawing unfolds with a palpable tension, urging readers to reflect on current crises of war, violence, and the polarization of American society. Essays by Tim Griffin and Haley Mellin place these themes in a broader cultural context, probing how media-driven narratives affect our collective psyche and how individual acts of protest—creative or otherwise—can stand against the seemingly insurmountable forces of capitalism and political division. Shirin Neshat’s contribution provides yet another layer of dialogue, connecting Longo’s work with broader global and existential inquiries.



Exquisite Production, Substantial Content

The book’s quarterbound hardcover design and half-linen spine attest to the level of care taken to showcase Longo’s drawings. Printed on natural paper using a tritone process, the reproductions capture extraordinary detail: the grain of the charcoal, the faint highlight in a soldier’s helmet, or the delicate shading that brings writhing forms to life. In many ways, the physicality of Charcoal Volume 2 parallels the impact of Longo’s art: it is substantial, well-crafted, and impossible to ignore. With 316 pages and 160 images, this is not a mere portfolio but a deep well of visual and intellectual material meant to be pored over and revisited.



A Legacy in Context

Longo’s influence in postmodern American art cannot be understated. As one of the central members of the Pictures Generation, he helped usher in a new era where existing imagery—film stills, magazine ads, pop-cultural icons—were subverted to critique consumer culture and media spectacle. In Charcoal Volume 2, he continues that tradition, utilizing black-and-white hyperrealism to force viewers to confront unsettling issues head-on. By bridging the first volume’s focus on previous series with these new works, this publication cements his sustained relevance and unyielding interrogation of modern life.



A Must-Have for Contemporary Art Enthusiasts

For readers, curators, and collectors eager to gain a deeper understanding of Robert Longo’s practice and the critical discourse surrounding it, Robert Longo: Charcoal Volume 2 stands as an essential resource. Its essays elucidate the political and ethical stakes of Longo’s imagery, while the lavish reproductions ensure that the artist’s masterful charcoal technique can be experienced in exquisite detail. Whether for the coffee table or the research library, the book offers a riveting, sometimes haunting window into how art can reflect—and challenge—the tumult of our time.


Artdaily participates in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn commissions by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help us continue curating and sharing the art world’s latest news, stories, and resources with our readers.