“Commissioned Painting: A Painting by Pat Nelson” is a work by John Baldessari completed in 1969. This piece is situated within the Conceptual Art movement, which focuses on the ideas and concepts behind the artwork rather than the aesthetic value or traditional craftsmanship. The genre of the artwork is based on photographic representation and text, exemplifying many of the paradigms of conceptualism.
The artwork presents a photograph of a hand pointing to a crudely rendered stick or line on the floor, captured within a frame. Below the photograph, text declares, “A PAINTING BY PAT NELSON,” suggesting an interplay between the visual component of the photograph and the conceptual assertion made through the text. The work challenges traditional notions of authorship and creation within the art world, questioning the relationship between an artist, the art they produce, and the role of interpretation and labeling in the value and definition of art. The presentation is austere and direct, devoid of superfluous ornamentation, guiding the viewer to reflect on the essence of artistic production and identity.