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Untitled
Unlike many other pieces of artwork at the museum, this piece was simply left as ‘Untitled.’ David Hammons did not use paint or ink to create this artwork. Instead, he used his body. By smearing his skin and clothing with grease and then pressing it against a sheet of paper, Hammons was able to create an image by sprinkling graphite or pigment on it afterwards. The artwork was Hammon’s way of describing his feelings during that time period. It was created in 1969, the period of nationwide protests and demonstrations against the Vietnam War. In the artwork, the man, who represents Hammons himself, clasping his hands in a prayer, hoping there won’t be a war. The wrinkled lines that Hammon’s body made the man’s clothes in the picture seem real. It amazes me how artists are able to constantly generate new ideas and display their artworks with hidden meanings through different methods.