You already know how I feel about artists who ransack the imaginations of others for profit, whether it’s Roy Lichtenstein’s clumsy appropriations, Mel Ramos’ $600,000 Green Lantern painting, or Sharon Moody’s anonymization of Jack Kirby. (Remember, though, that I’ve also told you I see nothing wrong with mashups, smashups, allusions, tributes, or homages.)

So it should come as no surprise that I’m horrified by the £3,554,500 ($5,684,356) Glenn Brown’s painting “Ornamental Despair (Painting for Ian Curtis)” sold for at auction.

Why? Well, doesn’t it seem a bit … familiar?

It should.

Because, save for a few minor tweaks, it’s nearly identical to the cover Chris Foss painted for a 1984 edition of Isaac Asimov’s The Stars Like Dust. (more…)