One and Three Photographs [Ety.]

1965

Joseph Kosuth

(American, 1945-)

Culture

Medium

vintage photograph, photograph of a photograph, photographic enlargement of dictionary definition of ‘photograph,’ original photo-certificate with original cut-out definition

Measurements

Overall: 40.2 x 52 cm (15 13/16 x 20 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2009.1

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Description

Kosuth is regarded as one of the most significant artists to champion conceptualism, which values the idea of an artwork over the physical object itself. In this work, Kosuth compares three different ways to present information, represented by an etymological dictionary definition of photograph, a photograph by Linda Butler of the nearby Peter B. Lewis building designed by Frank Gehry, and a life-size photograph of Butler’s photograph. Kosuth’s groundbreaking work presciently questions what it means for any image to be an “original” and whether this distinction influences a picture’s meaning.