Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Left: Vincent Van Gogh, Self-portrait, 1889 Right: Robert Gulaczyk, Loving Vincent film, 2017
Appropriation, according to Rowe (2011) is “the act of borrowing or reusing existing elements
within a new work.” The intention of the appropriation artists is for viewers to identify the images they
imitate or copy. Since the new artists are putting the work in a new context, they wish for the viewers to
bring all their original associations with the image. This new context is called “recontextualization” which
is from the deliberate borrowing of a prior work.
From the previous pages of this book, you may see Duchamp’s version of Mona Lisa where he
placed a “goatie” or mustache on the Renaissance woman. You can also identify Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup
Can series where he copied the exact labels of the actual brand but multiplied them to occupy the entire
plane. Both Duchamp and Warhol can be considered appropriation artists and they want the viewers to
associate the images with the original work. Varied interpretations might come in. According to art
historian Beth Gersh-Nesic (2018), Warhol is like an advertiser who wants the consumers to have that
“Mmm Mmm Good” feeling upon seeing the lined cans. In addition, viewers can form new associations
of the image such as “consumerism, commercialism, big business, fast food, middle-class values, and food
representing love”.
Look at contemporary examples of this type of work. What is borrowed from the original? What can be
the motivation of the appropriation artists? What is the effect of their works?
Example 1
Left: Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles Right: Robert Colesscott, Les Demoiselles
d’Avignon, 1907 d’Alabama, 1985
Example 2
Left: Caravaggio, Bacchus, 1595 Right: Kathleen Gilje, Bacchus Restored, 1992
Example 3
Prince did a rephotography of Marlboro ads. In 2005, his Untitled (Cowboy) sold for $1.2 million at
Christie’s auction.
Read and view the video from 100photos.time.com/photos/richard-prince-cowboy. Do you consider the
action of Prince justifiable? Why did he do it? If you were the “original” photographer of the ad, how
would you react? Do you consider the rephotography of Prince art?
Below are local examples of Appropriation. What innovations have been done? What “newness” is offered
by the appropriation artist?
Girl in Red with a Parasol (1909) Lady in Red with an Umbrella (2017)
By Max Pechstein Carthelyn Adajar
Oil on Canvas, 98 x 98 cm Photography
Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt Photo taken by Sai Adajar
Activity:
References
Rowe, H. (2011). Appropriation in contemporary art. Inquiries Journal, 3(6), 1. Retrieved from
www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1661/appropriation-in-contemporary-art
Rubric
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