Jesus colour by numbers
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi ; Richard Davis
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 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 the 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."
In Paolozzi's satirical presentation of contemporary American cluture, he depicted the image of Christ, the Christian messiah, but as a pop image. In its form of consumer culture, the paint-by-number painting of Jesus becomes another marketable and consumable project.
Physical Description:
The color photolithograph has a large bust of a male figure with long brown hair and a beard. The man is wearing a orange shirt with a blue shall. There is a halo in cream, red and green around the figure's head. The print is signed and dated in pencil (l.r.) "Eduardo Paolozzi A/P 1965/70".
Usage Rights:
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.