A Drawing While Waiting for an Idea

Description

This small print is an excellent example of the mystical turn of Rosenquist's thought. The cigarette burns, made with an airbrush, stand for the stars on the edge of the universe, thus contrasting the insignificant with the infinite.

He chose to print on a paper towel, explaining, "It's really Eastern philosophy. After a day's work, you march in and wipe your hands off on a paper towel. You are wiping off the things you did all day, never knowing when your best gesture is made, when your creative ability might be showing."

A Drawing While Waiting for an Idea

James Rosenquist

1966

Accession Number

98212

Medium

Color lithograph on tan paper towel

Dimensions

Image: 13.9 × 16.9 cm (5 1/2 × 6 11/16 in.); Sheet: 37.8 × 23.9 cm (14 15/16 × 9 7/16 in.)

Classification

lithograph

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

U.L.A.E. Collection acquired through a challenge grant of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dittmer; purchased with funds provided by supporters of the Department of Prints and Drawings; Centennial Endowment; Margaret Fisher Endowment Fund