Astute sizing up perfume trends
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi ; Richard Davis; Editions Alecto
Description
Subject Matter:
Like many of his contemporaries, Paolozzi used new printing techniques as a way to engage with modern mass media's new visual culture. At the same time, the photomechanical process made the work look mechanically manufactured rather than hand-made, in the traditional artistic sense. Therefore after he modified, transformed, and assembled the source image(s), the medium would allow for a more uniform final image.
This print is one of a large series of 50 prints included in the 1970 portfolio, which was a second edition of an earlier group of slightly-larger prints titled "Moonstrips Empire News." While the first series was stricktly produced as screenprints, this second series "General Dynamic F.U.N." includes works of photolithography, like this one. The themes seen in this portfolio are different in style and subject matter from other Pop works of the period, but engage with the images of a modern mass media, looking beyond just advertising and publicity images. Likewise, the title of the portfolio alludes to the General Dynamics Corporation, who was the manufacturer of the F-111 fighter used during the Vietnam War—the same one referenced in James Rosenquist monumental painting "F-111."
As with other works in this series, Paolozzi alters found mass media images in order to satirize contemporary culture. This beauty image and the accompanying title are made strange. In the name of beauty, the woman is made monstrous in curlers and face mask, accentuated here with neon colors.
Physical Description:
Photolithographic print in pink, orange, white and yellow with a face of a woman at the top and horizontal stripes then a grid at the bottom. The woman has metal curlers in her hair and a cosmetic face mask on, which is pink, in contrast to the orange image.
Usage Rights:
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