Accession Number
2000/2.14.50

Title
Watch out for miracles... new hope for better babies

Artist(s)
Sir Eduardo Paolozzi

Artist Nationality
British (modern)

Object Creation Date
1965 - 1970

Medium & Support
screenprint on paper

Dimensions
14 15/16 in x 10 in (37.94 cm x 25.4 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Professor Diane M. Kirkpatrick

Subject matter
Like many of his contemporaries, Paolozzi used screenprinting 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 than hand made, in the traditional artistic sense. Therefore, when he modified, transformed, assemped 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 strictly produced as screenprints, this second series "General Dynamic F.U.N." includes works of photolithography. The themes seen in this portfolio are different in style and other Pop works of the period, but still 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 this image, Paolozzi shows his broader interest in technology, machinery and computers. The artist is showing us an image of what is presumably an engineer working on humanoid robots of the future. Articlulated in the title as well, this image is meant to be a satirical view, combining the hope of technology with the ominous possibilities of such technology with the robots looming large behind the unsuspecting engineer.

Physical Description
A portrait image in two tones of blue printed slightly off match, showing a man at the center dressed in a white shirt, tie and slacks, with dark-rimmed glasses. The man is leaning over a automoton/robot, which is seated to the left of him. On the right and to the back, are two more standing robots. Each robot has humanoid features like a face, torso, arms, hands, legs, and feet with boots on. Two of the robots, one seated and one to the back at the center, have their internal workings revealed with their central torso panel removed, showing wires and indeterminate parts. 

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
Pop (fine arts styles)
automata
electronic engineers
portfolios (groups of works)
robots
screen prints