Exhibition

In Our Time: Prints by R.B. Kitaj

July 29, 2023–March 4, 2024 | An exhibition of screen prints by artist R.B. Kitaj (1932–2007), the newly acquired works depict hyperrealistic replicas of well-loved book covers exploring the intersection between literary and visual arts.

On view in the Huntington Art Gallery, “In Our Time: Prints by R.B. Kitaj” explores the intersection between literary and visual arts, lays bare social and political issues that were important to the artist, and provides information about the art of screen printing. The exhibition is drawn from Kitaj’s portfolio titled In Our Time: Covers for a Small Library After the Life for the Most Part (1969–70), comprising 50 works that were acquired by The Huntington in 2020. The exhibition will have two installation rotations that will each spotlight 22 screen prints, showing 44 works in total.

Torn book cover with a tan background and red rectangle, with the words "Toward a Better Life"

R.B. Kitaj, Towards a Better Life, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

Black book cover with centered white text, the largest print reads "In Our Time."

R.B. Kitaj, In Our Time: Covers for a Small Library After the Life for the Most Part, 1969–1970, screen print, 31 x 22 5/8 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.  | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

A duotone book cover depicting a narrow tower overlooking a body of water, layered in vegetation.

R.B. Kitaj, The Tower, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.  | © R.B. Kitaj Estate  

Duotone book cover depicting the ocean, with a large wave in the foreground, and a distant boat silhouetted against the sun.

R.B. Kitaj, O’Neill, 1969–1970, screen print, 22 1/2 x 30 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.  | © R.B. Kitaj Estate

A book cover with bold text and an image of a hand holding a gun near a Star of David.

R.B. Kitaj, Benia Krik, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

A book cover with a green and tan background depicting a figure in a window, overlaid with a smiling face in pink.

R.B. Kitaj, Vampyr, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

A duotone book cover depicting a soldier's face viewed from below.

R.B. Kitaj, La Lucha del Pueblo Español por su Libertad, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 1/2 × 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

A green book cover with torn edges, covered in black text.

R.B. Kitaj, Permit Me Voyage, 1969–1970, screen print, 22 1/2 × 30 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.  | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

A book jacket on tan paper, an orange front cover depicts black and white photos of baseball player Lou Gherig.

R.B. Kitaj, Lou Gehrig, 1969–1970, screen print, 22 1/2 × 30 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

An orange book cover with a black and white image of a man at a desk.

R.B. Kitaj, Workers in the Dawn, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 1/2 × 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

Dark gray-blue book cover with a black and white image of two people in fancy clothes, posing for a photo.

R.B. Kitaj, London by Night - Life and Art in Photograph: No. Four, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 3/4 × 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

Illustrated book cover with a family in black and white on a mustard-colored background.

R.B. Kitaj, Final, City of Burbank, California, Annual Budget, 1969–1970, screen print, 30 1/2 × 22 1/2 in. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.  | © R.B. Kitaj Estate 

Printmaking Processes: Screenprinting

Produced by the Minneapolis Institute of Art