“The Final End” is an artwork created by Edward Ruscha in 1991. As a piece that is part of the Pop Art movement, it fits within the figurative genre and is part of Ruscha’s series titled “The End.” The painting is characterized by the prominent use of textual elements within the visual composition, which is a distinct characteristic of Ruscha’s style.
The artwork features the words “The End” in large, bold, and stylized lettering that dominates the canvas. The background is a monotone grey with a texture that resembles a scratched film or a weathered surface—incorporating a sense of age or deterioration. Contrastingly, the text has a cinematic quality to it, reminiscent of the closing frames of classic Hollywood movies, where such words would traditionally appear. The vertical streaks that run the length of the artwork further suggest the texture of film strips or perhaps the feeling of something being washed away or eroded over time. This play with media and texture is common in Ruscha’s works, often invoking a sense of nostalgia while also commenting on the transitory nature of culture and the artifice found in everyday imagery.
