Richard Prince

Donated by the artist

This work is in very good condition overall. There is evidence of light wear and handling to the sides and edges. The edges of the screen consist of under-layers of tape, which appear uneven and lifting at certain points, which is inherent to the artist's working method. Under ultraviolet light inspection, there is no evidence of restoration. Unframed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Untitled (2007) is a work in the genre of Prince’s series of Monochromatic Joke paintings, made from 1987 to 1989, in which jokes that might derive from Las Vegas stand-up routines or cartoon captions are silkscreened in boldly colored typefaces onto fields of contrasting, uniform color. Here, a suggestive joke, straight out of the Henny Youngman school, is silkscreened in black print onto the surface of a screenprinting frame that has been worked in a sensuous, painterly abstraction of luminous whites in tonal variations. The reverse of the frame reveals the screen itself, on which an older existing image and accompanying text is visible. The lowbrow American humor coexists in this work with a nod to an equally American pair of artistic traditions, conceptualism and Abstract Expressionism, throwing both societal and artistic customs into relief.