IS
Ed Ruscha, 1991
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
‘Is’ written in giant typed letters, fading into the background, while at the bottom, as subtitles and in a more modern font, the same word has appeared.
The whole image comes across as a still from an old black and white movie, a moment frozen in time.
Time is what Ruscha puts central in this painting, but not the passing of time, nor future or past, but rather the fleeting and elusive now.
About the artist
Edward Joseph Ruscha IV (December 16, 1937) is an American artist associated with the pop art movement. He has worked in the media of painting, printmaking, drawing, photography, and film. He is also noted for creating several artist's books. Ruscha lives and works in Culver City, California.
Ruscha achieved recognition for paintings incorporating words and phrases and for his many photographic books, all influenced by the deadpan irreverence of the Pop Art movement. His textual, flat paintings have been linked with both the Pop Art movement and the beat generation.
Photo by Onno Maat