The artwork titled “Collage for F-111” is a creation by the artist James Rosenquist, completed in the year 1964. This collage falls within the figurative genre and is a notable example of the Pop Art movement. The medium employed in the creation of this artwork is collage, which is consistent with the era’s fascination with blending commercial aesthetics and fine arts.
The artwork presents the viewer with a striking juxtaposition of images that are emblematic of the Pop Art movement’s tendency to fuse consumer culture iconography with other elements to critique or reflect on contemporary society. In the artwork, the dominant features include two mirrored images of a woman with a hair dryer helmet placed on her head, which have been superimposed over portions of her face. The woman is shown holding a Coca-Cola bottle, a symbol intimately associated with American consumerism and advertising. The vibrant splash of pink behind the figure’s head injects a dynamic sense of color and energy, providing a stark contrast to the black and white of the hair dryer helmets.
The fragmentation and repetition of the image imbue the artwork with a sense of rhythm and highlight the interchangeable nature of consumer goods and the individuals who use them. The artwork’s layering of elements and the stark cropping provide a commentary on the bombardment of advertising and the commodification of everyday life during the mid-20th century. Rosenquist’s use of familiar commercial imagery within an artistic context invites viewers to reconsider the relationship between popular culture and fine art.
