Styles & Movements

Appropriation

Strictly speaking, this strategy involves the direct duplication, copying or incorporation of an image (painting, photograph, etc.) from an identified source by an artist who represents it in a different context, thus completely altering its meaning and questioning notions of originality and authenticity. In the 80s, however, appropriation came to include the reinterpretation of images from fine art or mass media sources, and often the combining of various images derived from various sources.

The purpose of appropriation could be a political statement, an ironic gesture, a straight-up homage, or the desire to strengthen the power and impact of a particular image through reinterpretation of it. Many artists in the 80s practiced appropriation of some type, including Gretchen Bender, Barbara Kruger, Sherrie Levine, Robert Longo, Arnold Mesches, David Salle, and others.

See mass media