The artwork “Irascible” by artist Mel Bochner, created in 2006, is a notable piece within the Conceptual Art movement.
The artwork features a black background filled with various negative adjectives and phrases written in different sizes and styles, all emphasizing themes of irritability and anger. Words like “IRASCIBLE,” “IRRITABLE,” “ARGUMENTATIVE,” and “BELLIGERENT” draw the observer’s attention at first glance, with lighter shades creating a striking contrast against the dark canvas. Phrases such as “PETULANT,” “CRABBY,” and “BITCHY” are interspersed across the composition, visually representing a spectrum of emotional agitation. Bochner’s use of text as the sole visual element embodies the conceptual nature of the piece, offering a visceral representation of temperamental human states.
