Created by John Baldessari in 1999, “Hog: Maquette for the Elbow Series (A1)” is a work that embodies the characteristics of Conceptual Art and Pop Art movements. It falls within the genre of figurative art, yet as with much of Baldessari’s work, it also challenges and expands upon the traditional boundaries of that classification through its engagement with conceptual themes and pop culture.
The artwork consists of four quadrants, each with a distinct but related visual composition. In the top left, one can observe a partial depiction of a human face in a naturalistic style, disrupted by what appears to be white overpainting that obscures portions of the features. The top right stands in contrast, featuring only text on a plain background that reads “HOG.” The bottom left quadrant displays a photographic image of vibrant green foliage with a singular yellow flower at its center, evoking a sense of the organic. Finally, the bottom right quadrant mirrors the top right in its simplicity; however, it is devoid of text, presenting only a dark, featureless space.
The juxtaposition of these elements—the interruption of the figurative portrait, the starkness of the textual element, the natural beauty, and the blank space—provokes reflection on the relationship between images, language, and perception. “Hog: Maquette for the Elbow Series (A1)” challenges the viewer to draw connections between seemingly disparate components, a hallmark of Baldessari’s conceptual approach that often questions the nature of art itself. Through its fragmentation and combination of visual elements, the artwork invites the viewer to consider the ways in which meaning is constructed and deconstructed, both in art and in the broader cultural landscape.