Happy Jack
"He’s there for advice just don’t ask him for any." - Pete McKee
Curatorial Note
Created for Pete's 2022 Don't Adjust Your Mindset exhibition this work features a disgruntled employee who has recently take on a new job because his state pension is not enough to live on. The apron echoes those worn in B&Q, a company known for employing older people.
Pete describes the background as “Rembrandt brown”, referencing Rembrandt’s famous self-portraits by creating a similar backdrop. Rembrandt painted self-portraits up until the age of sixty-three, depicting himself in a dignified manner, meeting the viewer’s gaze. “Jack” also looks directly at the viewer, yet the sentiment differs as he cannot hide his dissatisfaction. His stiff pose for this portrait references the mandatory staff photographs taken in large companies.
“Of course there are plenty of people out there who want to continue working after the retirement age, even if they don’t have to. However, some don’t have a choice either way because they will never be able to save enough to enable themselves to fully retire when they get their pension.”
Product Options:
This image is available as an art print, produced on high-quality paper and available unframed or framed. This image is also available on canvas.
Unframed art print*
Small print: 40cm x 56cm
Large print: 50cm x 70cm
*Dimensions include a white border that surrounds the image and measures approximately 5cm.
Please note that unframed prints take 1-3 working days to be printed and an extra 1-2 working days for delivery. Unframed prints are available the same day from the McKee gallery for collection only.
Framed art print
Mounted and framed in a bespoke, glass, black angled frame. Made by the gallery's local framer.
Small framed print: 43cm x 53cm (approx)
Large framed print: 54cm x 70cm (approx)
Please note that framed prints take 7-10 working days to be made up and an extra 2-3 working days for delivery.
Canvas
Our canvases are hand-stretched onto chunky pine frames with hand-folded corners. Our McKee images are printed onto the canvases with high-definition printers to produce sharp, high-quality images.
Canvas: 31cm x 41cm
Please note our canvases can take up to 7 working days to be delivered or to be collected in store.
