The artwork, “Untitled (Cigarettes)” by Richard Prince, was created between 1978 and 1979 using the medium of appropriation, prominently aligning with the Conceptual Art movement. The dimensions of the artwork are 40.8 x 61 cm, and it falls under the genre of photo. This piece is currently housed at the Kunstmuseum Basel in Basel, Switzerland.
The artwork presents two close-up images of cigarettes lying on contrasting backgrounds. One image features a cigarette branded as “Alfred Dunhill of London” placed on a surface with intricate patterns and text, suggesting elegance and sophistication. The other image shows a “Menthol Low Tar” 100’s cigarette placed on a crumpled, glossy background, which displays the brand name and hints of smoky visuals. Through these juxtaposed cigarette depictions, the artwork explores themes of commercialism and the constructed identities of products within consumer culture.
