Born: August 6, 1949, Panama Canal Zone
Nationality: American
Style: Appropriation Art, Photography
Influences: Mass media, advertising, American culture
"I'm interested in the way images circulate and acquire meaning."
Notable Artwork
Untitled (Cowboy) (1989)
About Richard Prince
Born: August 6, 1949, Panama Canal Zone Nationality: American Style: Appropriation Art, Photography Influences: Mass media, advertising, American culture Major Exhibitions: “Untitled (Cowboy)” (1989), “Spiritual America” (1983), “Nurse Paintings” (2000s) Quote: “I’m interested in the way images circulate and acquire meaning.”
Notable Artwork: Untitled (Cowboy) (1989)
This work is a re-photograph of a Marlboro cigarette advertisement. Prince cropped the image to remove the text and branding, leaving only the image of the rugged cowboy.
Significance
Untitled (Cowboy) is a classic example of Prince’s appropriation of advertising imagery. By removing the commercial context, he highlights the constructed nature of these images and their role in shaping American mythology and masculinity. The work also raises questions about authorship and copyright.