The artwork titled “Treatment room” by Richard Hamilton, created in 1984, falls under the genre of installation art. This piece reflects Hamilton’s engagement with contemporary social and political themes through a structured and immersive setup.
The artwork consists of a treatment room environment meticulously constructed with a high degree of realism. Central to the installation is a stark and sterile-looking stretcher bed on casters, equipped with a pillow and covered with a red blanket. Adjacent to the stretcher is a small step stool, all painted in white, contributing to the clinical atmosphere. Above the stretcher is a television screen suspended at an angle from the ceiling, displaying the face of a prominent figure in a blue outfit. The setting is minimalistic, yet it effectively conveys a sense of institutional austerity. The muted colors and the calculated arrangement of objects within the space evoke a somber, introspective mood. Overall, Hamilton’s “Treatment room” is a compelling installation that invites viewers to reflect on the intersection of media, authority, and the environments in which they converge.