Ed Ruscha - Suite of Six Etchings, Two People Temporarily Separated
American, b.1937
Suite of Six Etchings - Two People Temporarily Separated, 1980
Etching, 19.25 x 39.125 inches
Edition 11/55
Bernard Jacobson Ltd.
00.017c

Gift of Thomas S. Porter (MBA '67)

Despite being difficult to categorize, Ruscha is linked to California pop art of the 1960s and to certain trends in conceptual art that explored the bringing together of image and word in ironic combinations. An important concern of Ruscha’s, which he has developed in paintings, prints and artist’s books, is repeated imagery that is subtly varied. Despite being difficult to categorize, Ruscha is linked to California pop art of the 1960s and to certain trends in conceptual art that explored the bringing together of image and word in ironic combinations. An important concern of Ruscha’s, which he has developed in paintings, prints and artist’s books, is repeated imagery that is subtly varied.

In the Suite of Six Etchings, Ruscha delineated a series of panoramic barren landscapes solely with etched parallel lines. He then populated his settings with miniscule figures on low horizon lines who in each case perform an action named in the titles for the prints. Each little drama takes on a poignant absurdity as mundane events are dwarfed by the suggestion of some greater reality.