Currently not on view

America, Her Best Product,
1974

Ed Ruscha, American, born 1937
Printed by James Allen at Cirrus Editions

x1976-289

Associated with the Pop art movement, Ed Ruscha is celebrated for incorporating language into art. Ruscha created his first word-based painting in 1961, and he continues to explore the formal qualities and material properties of written words in prints, drawings, and paintings. As the artist has commented, “I like the idea of a word becoming a picture, almost leaving its body, then coming back and becoming a word again.” In this lithograph, Ruscha transcribes a banal, readymade phrase using the Futura typeface, a modern font associated with efficiency and commerce—two targets of Ruscha’s ironic commentary.

Information

Title

America, Her Best Product

Dates

1974

Maker

Cirrus Editions

Ed Ruscha

Medium

Color lithograph on Rives BFK paper

Dimensions

79.7 x 59.7 cm. (31 3/8 x 23 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Lorillard, a division of Loews Theatres, Inc.

Object Number

x1976-289

Place Made

North America, United States, California, Los Angeles

Inscription

Numbered in graphite, bottom left: 14//125 Workshop number in graphite, bottom right: 179C-ER74 Signed and dated on verso in graphite, lower right: Edward Ruscha 74

Reference Numbers

Engberg 78

Culture

American

Type

prints, lithographs

Materials

lithographic ink

Techniques

lithography, mounting

Subject

dots, typography

Share your feedback with us

The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

Citation

Ed Ruscha (American, born 1937), Printed by James Allen at Cirrus Editions, America, Her Best Product, 1974. Color lithograph on Rives BFK paper; 79.7 x 59.7 cm. Gift of Lorillard, a division of Loews Theatres, Inc. (x1976-289) https://artmuseum-beta.princeton.edu/art/collections/objects/13332

Image Not Available for Download

This image is under copyright or otherwise restricted. If you are interested in using the image, you may need to request this from the image rights holder. Please refer to our Image Use and Access guidelines for further information.

Currently not on view

America, Her Best Product,
1974

Information

Share your feedback with us

Pier Table ,
ca. 1815–20

Warren S. Weiant, Jr. ,
1904

The Gate of Calais or The Roast Beef of Old England ,
1748–49

St. Jerome

Venetian Filigree ,
1931

Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, UK ,
1980

Citation

Image Not Available for Download

Explore More

Hear the Conservator

Artist-in-Residence Talk: Liu Xiaodong

Currently not on view

America, Her Best Product, 1974

Information

Bibliographic Entries

Share your feedback with us

Related Objects

Pier Table , ca. 1815–20

Warren S. Weiant, Jr. , 1904

The Gate of Calais or The Roast Beef of Old England , 1748–49

St. Jerome

Venetian Filigree , 1931

Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, UK , 1980

Explore More

Hear the Conservator

Artist-in-Residence Talk: Liu Xiaodong

America, Her Best Product,
1974

Pier Table ,
ca. 1815–20

Warren S. Weiant, Jr. ,
1904

The Gate of Calais or The Roast Beef of Old England ,
1748–49

Venetian Filigree ,
1931

Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland, UK ,
1980