So much has been said about the Mona Lisa that it might seem there’s little more for visual culture to add to the work that hasn’t been done before. American artist Peter Saul proves this wrong with his depiction of Leo’s wry subject throwing up a pizza. The 1995 work is both gross and hilarious—in a teenage boy sort of way, sure; but funny nonetheless. The painting will be on show as part of a retrospective of Saul’s work, titled Peter Saul: Pop, Funk, Bad Painting and More, running from 20 September until 26 January 2020 at Les Abattoirs in Toulouse, France; among more than ninety pieces spanning paintings and graphic art pieces alongside ephemera from the artist’s archives. The image is exemplary of Saul’s approach to art-making, merging historical reference points with pop culture (superheroes, comics and so on) and commentary on issues such as the Vietnam War and criticism of the likes of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Grotesquerie, a savvy new viewpoint and wit combine to arresting effect.
