Accession Number
2016/2.210

Title
"What Would Life Be.." Van Gogh Quote

Artist(s)
Paul Rand

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1985

Medium & Support
silkscreen on paper

Dimensions
32 1/2 in x 20 in (82.55 cm x 50.8 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo and Maria Phillips

Subject matter
This poster is a promotional material for the type house Pastore Depamphilis Rampone. Rand chose a quotation from the artist Vincent Van Gogh and displayed it below one of Van Gogh’s most recognizable motifs: the sunflower. Rand turns the motif on its head by eliminating Van Gogh’s distinctive modulations of color and light and reducing the image to its most elemental form: the silhouette. The noticeable absence of the sunflower is contrasted with the detailed and colorful form of a butterfly, which flutters near the petals of the sunflower.

EC 2017

Physical Description
A graphic of a sunflower's outline, black at its top and gray at its stem and leaves, appears against a white background. An orange butterlfy is positioned to the left. A Van Gogh quote appears at the bottom in gold, disjointed text.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Lepidoptera (order)
montages (visual works)
screen printing