Illustration of a smiling person in orange, squatting under bold red text "WORK HARD" on a bright yellow background.

Joan Cornellà

Work Hard and Then Die

€600
Limited edition of 49260.0 (H) × 43.3 (W) cm

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A new limited edition print by Joan Cornellà delivers signature satire with a brutally familiar sentiment: Work Hard and Then Die.

The Barcelona-born artist is internationally renowned for his thought-provoking, honest and wildly entertaining comic strips and illustrative artworks. Borrowing visual techniques from 1950s advertising campaigns, he tackles taboo subjects including social media obsession, existentialism and environmental collapse. Work Hard and Then Die is a prime example of the artist’s cutting satire. Through his deceptively simple visual language, he poses an unforgiving question: why has work become the main measure of our worth? 

In close collaboration with the artist, our printmakers at Make-Ready crafted this archival pigment print with phosphorescent glow-in-the-dark silkscreen detail and a matte varnish seal, perfectly embodying Cornellà’s graphic aesthetic.

I think we all laugh at misery. We must start from the idea that when we laugh, we laugh at someone or something. With empathy or not, there is always some degree of cruelty. In spite of that, I am aware that if one of my cartoons happened in real life, I would not laugh at all.

Joan Cornellà
A portrait of Joan Cornella
Joan Cornellà1 collaboration

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Reviews from Avant collectors

  • Excellent on every level - buying experience, communication, framing and packaging by (which was exceptional) and of course, the actual artwork - it is stunning in real life - really delighted.

  • packaging was great and the framing is beautiful! thanks

  • The print is beautifully made, and I love it.

  • were happy to have the print and are grateful for the professional correspondence. we look fwd to purchasing prints in the future.

  • You guys offer great quality backed by a team of wonderful professionals. I look forward to years of business together.

  • amazing piece. love the frame and unbox experience

  • 10/10 The customer service was great, it didn't take long to receive the package, the shipping was ultra safe and the entire presentation was top tier. Very impressed, cheers!

  • The piece looks great and we love having it in our home and added to our collection! Thanks so much...


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