Erotic brown ink lithograph, 30 x 23, entitled “Erotica #8 Fellatio,” depicting Yoko Ono leaning forward and fellating an “attentive” John Lennon, signed upside down in pencil, “John Lennon.” During their honeymoon in Amsterdam, John used drawing materials previously sent to him and created a series of drawings, mostly of Yoko and himself. By September, John had completed a set of ten drawings, but he was reluctant to speak about the new works. The new set depicted John and Yoko in various acts of love and thus the reason for John’s insecurity. By the time the lithographs were ready for signing, December had arrived. John and Yoko were in Toronto planning a peace festival and were staying at the farm house of musician Ronnie Hawkins. The lithographs were shipped to Toronto and John methodically scrawled his name over and over again. It was reported that this was done over endless joints and cups of tea. In January 1970, the first exhibition was held at the London Arts Gallery. During the second day of the exhibition, the gallery was raided by Scotland Yard and eight lithographs were confiscated. A complaint was filed that the gallery had “exhibited to the public eight indecent prints to the annoyance of passengers." When the case came to court several months later, a Picasso lithograph and catalog of Picasso drawings were produced at Marlborough Street Magistrates Court for comparison with Lennon’s. Ultimately, the case was dismissed and the decision was that it was unlikely that John’s prints would corrupt or deprave. The American opening was a lavish affair held at the Lee Nordness Gallery in New York. All of New York’s art community turned out for the event, including Salvadore Dali. The complete set of Bag One lithographs is on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In fine condition. COA Roger Epperson/REAL and R&R COA.
