Ed Ruscha: Pepto-Caviar Hollywood

Printed in 1970 by Cirrus Editions, Los Angeles, Ed Ruscha’s screen print Pepto-Caviar Hollywood depicts the iconic Hollywood Sign, which has become synonymous with both LA and the American movie industry. In this composition, the landmark emerges from a low horizon, with the sign’s letters receding into the distance. The print was created in two runs from two screens with the decidedly unconventional mediums of Pepto-Bismol and caviar, as Ruscha was experimenting with unusual everyday substances—from gunpowder to egg yolk and chocolate—to create works on paper. Here, he combines the richness of caviar with the pink remedy used to counteract dietary overindulgence.