Paul McCarthy

Class Fool
1976

A collage of black and white photographs depicting various scenes, including a man speaking into a microphone, musicians performing, a person being tattooed, and several close-up shots of a tattoo in progress. The images capture the intensity and atmosphere of a live performance or event, with some photos showing the audience and others focusing on the performers and the tattoo artist at work.
A collage of black and white photographs depicting various scenes, including a man speaking into a microphone, musicians performing, a person being tattooed, and several close-up shots of a tattoo in progress. The images capture the intensity and atmosphere of a live performance or event, with some photos showing the audience and others focusing on the performers and the tattoo artist at work.

Not on view

Date
1976

Classification
Photographs

Medium
Collage of fifty gelatin silver and chromogenic prints

Dimensions
Overall (Sight): 79 1/2 × 50in. (201.9 × 127 cm) Frame: 83 1/8 × 53 3/8in. (211.1 × 135.6 cm)

Accession number
2001.138.8

Edition
Vintage

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Contemporary Painting and Sculpture Committee and Norah Sharpe Stone

Rights and reproductions
© Paul McCarthy; courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth

API
artworks/15640

Part of a series:
Combination Photographs
13 works

A panoramic sequence of four black and white photographs displayed side by side. Each photo is rotated 90 degrees from the previous one, creating a flipbook effect. The first and fourth images show a person standing and holding a complex piece of equipment with dials and wires. The second and third images, rotated 180 degrees from the first, depict two individuals sitting, one of whom is wearing headphones and appears to be conducting an interview or recording. The setting includes electronic equipment and a plain backdrop, suggesting a studio environment.
A cyanotype photograph depicting two individuals engaged in an activity, with one person sitting and the other leaning over, both appearing to focus on an object or task at hand. The blue-toned image creates a surreal and monochromatic effect.
A collage of black and white photographs depicting various scenes, including a man speaking into a microphone, musicians performing, a person being tattooed, and several close-up shots of a tattoo in progress. The images capture the intensity and atmosphere of a live performance or event, with some photos showing the audience and others focusing on the performers and the tattoo artist at work.
A gallery wall featuring a series of framed black and white photographs. On the left, a large frame contains a collage of images showing a shirtless man in various poses with his hands behind his head. To the right, three smaller frames display more abstract compositions, including blurred figures and dark, indistinct scenes that suggest movement and chaos. The artwork is presented in a clean, well-lit space, emphasizing the contrast between the stark photography and the minimalist setting.
A collage of black and white photographs showing a nude figure in various poses within a studio setting, surrounded by photography equipment and lighting. Some images are rotated or inverted, adding an abstract quality to the composition.

Paul McCarthy
41 works in the collection

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