Hollywood in the Rain
1969
Ed Ruscha (American, 1937-)
Not on View

In the late 1950s, Ed Ruscha moved from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles to pursue his artistic aspirations. Often addressing issues by using text and words, here Ruscha portrays the iconic sign in the Hollywood Hills, erected in 1923. The sign’s letters appear at the top of the hill, rather than mid-slope, as they actually are situated and as he would have seen them from his Western Avenue address. This exaggeration of the placement of the sign represents the illusion of Hollywood as others might see it in the collective consciousness.

Interestingly, playing further with the myth of Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign is depicted here in the rain. It does rain in Los Angeles, but not in the sunny Hollywood that exists as fantasy.

Details

  • Artist Name: Ed Ruscha (American, 1937-)
  • Title: Hollywood in the Rain
  • Date: 1969
  • Medium: Lithograph on calendered Rives BFK paper; torn edges
  • Dimensions: comp: 2 x 8-1/8 in. (5.1 x 20.6 cm); sheet: 7-1/8 x 12-1/4 in. (18.1 x 31.1 cm)
  • Publisher: Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Inc.
  • Printer: Donald Kelley
  • Credit Line: Norton Simon Museum, Anonymous Gift
  • Accession Number: P.1971.7.186
  • Copyright: © 2012 Edward Ruscha

Object Information

Ooo: Early Prints by Ed Ruscha

  • Norton Simon Museum, 2006-09-22 to 2007-01-22

Pop Culture!

  • Norton Simon Museum, 2001-11-16 to 2002-02-11

A Salute to the Ferus Gallery

  • Norton Simon Museum, 1993-09-23 to 1994-03-20

Duchamp to Pop

  • Norton Simon Museum, 2016-03-04 to 2016-08-29

Art from Stone: Prints from the Tamarind Lithography Workshop, 1960-1970

  • Norton Simon Museum, 1999-06-24 to 1999-12-12

Prints from the Tamarind Lithography Workshop in Los Angeles: The First Decade

  • Norton Simon Museum, 1990-12-20 to 1991-06-16

Additional Artwork by Artist

Air Ed Ruscha 1969
Annie, Poured from Maple Syrup Ed Ruscha 1966
Carp Ed Ruscha 1969

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