Miller, Harland | Happiness (small), 2017 — available on Composition Gallery

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Intaglio print on paper. Signed, dated and numbered.

Happiness (small) (2017) by Harland Miller is a satirical intaglio print mimicking the design of a vintage Penguin paperback cover. Known for blending literary and visual art, Miller uses the format of a book jacket to explore themes of irony, melancholy, and British stoicism. The bold title HAPPINESS – THE CASE AGAINST contrasts sharply with the vibrant, geometric illusion at the center of the image, hinting at the elusive and contradictory nature of happiness. The print plays with language and visual structure, reflecting Miller’s signature blend of humor, cynicism, and design nostalgia.

Harland Miller (British, 1964) is known for his large-scale paintings inspired by vintage Penguin book covers. Blending satire, text, and abstraction, his works play with nostalgia and British pop culture. Miller combines literary references with bold typography, creating a unique crossover between visual art and literature.

Harland Miller

Happiness (small), 2017

Name: Happiness (small), 2017
SKU: 16041

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Intaglio

IntaglioIntaglio is a printmaking technique where a design is incised below the surface of a metal or stone plate. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the incised lines or depressions, while the surface is wiped clean. The ink in the depressions is then transferred to paper using an etching press. Common intaglio techniques include engraving, etching, and drypoint.

Edition

Edition of 50

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●Inventory 16041

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Limited Edition Print

Intaglio

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Harland Miller (b. 1964 UK) is a British artist and writer best known for his large-scale paintings that blend Text-based art, Pop Art, and literary references. Drawing inspiration from classic Penguin book covers, Miller uses wit and irony to explore themes of identity, melancholy, and British culture. His works often feature bold typography paired with imagined titles, creating a bridge between visual art and literature. Influenced by both modernist design and the conceptual strategies of the YBAs, Miller’s paintings evoke nostalgia while questioning authorship and meaning. His background as a novelist adds depth to his practice, allowing him to infuse language with emotional weight and humor. Miller's distinctive fusion of word and image has made him a unique figure in contemporary British painting.

Artwork by Andy Warhol

What is pop-art?

Pop Art is an art movement that began in Britain in 1955 and in the late 1950s in the U.S. It challenged traditional fine arts by incorporating imagery from popular culture, such as news, advertising, and comic books. Pop Art often isolates and recontextualizes materials, combining them with unrelated elements. The movement is more about the attitudes and ideas that inspired it than the specific art itself. Pop Art is seen as a reaction against the dominant ideas of Abstract Expressionism, bringing everyday consumer culture into the realm of fine art.

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Harland Miller

Happiness (small), 2017

99 x 73 cm

Language & Currency

Harland Miller