The Defects of Its Qualities

Since at least the Renaissance, the quotation of works of art has gone hand-in-hand with the development of printmaking. The multiplicity, economy, and transportability of prints quickly established them as the principal means of circulating information about other works of art, often determining artistic influence and shaping stylistic development. Kitaj's print of an advertisement bearing the question, "What is an Original Print?," offers a wry reflection on this traditonal role of printmaking. This print demonstrates that, in the hands of a Pop artist, the practice of appropriation often reflects a parody and a critique as much as a tribute to art historical sources.