Ruff, Thomas | Chiracs battle, 1998 — available on Composition Gallery

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// Chirac's Battle by Thomas Ruff, created in 1998, is a thought-provoking photographic artwork that critiques political power and military symbolism. The image features a manipulated, propaganda-style portrayal of Jacques Chirac, the French president at the time, set against a background of nuclear explosions and military planes. The bold red text, which reads Croire en Grand (Believe Big), contrasts with the unsettling visuals, highlighting the irony in grandiose political rhetoric associated with nuclear power and defense. Ruff’s work often involves appropriated imagery and digital manipulation to challenge viewers’ perceptions of media and authority. This limited-edition photograph encourages reflection on the intersection of politics, nationalism, and the ethics of military force.

Thomas Ruff (Germany, 1958) is a contemporary photographer known for his conceptual approach and exploration of the photographic medium. A member of the Düsseldorf School, he has produced diverse series, including large-scale portraits, architectural studies, and digitally manipulated images. Ruff's work challenges perceptions of reality and representation in photography.

Thomas Ruff

Chiracs battle, 1998

Name: Chiracs battle, 1998
SKU: 3151
Price: 950.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Form

Photography

PhotographyPhotography is the process of creating an image on light sensitive materials. The image is produced by using a camera, which has a lens that focuses on light either reflected or emitted from an object. These visible wavelengths are used to reproduce the image seen.

Medium

Pictography

PictographyA photograph is an image captured with a camera. Traditionally, photographs were made by exposing film and then developing the image on light-sensitive paper using chemicals. Today, photographs can also be captured digitally and printed or displayed electronically. The process requires a camera, whether film or digital, and a photographer.

Edition

Edition of 100 + 20AP

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●Inventory 3151

Limited Edition Print

Deemed the ‘master of edited and reimagined images’, Thomas Ruff is a photographer renowned for his use of technological advancements as a means of bringing new meaning and visual possibilities to his field. Press++ is among the photographer’s most notable works and is comprised of numerous images that had been published in American newspapers and magazines between the 1920’s and 1970’s, later sourced by Ruff on eBay - in producing the works, he scanned the front and back of the images and digitally combined them, with consideration taken of touch-ups, scribbles and date stamps. Among Ruff’s wider oeuvre are expressionless portraits, blurred pornography, domestic interiors and internet-sourced JPEGs. Heavily inspired by his teachers Bernd and Hilla Becher, Ruff learned from their expertise in straight photography; Joel Meyerowitz and Stephen Shore are among his other early influences.

Artwork by Wade Guyton

What is Digital Art?

Digital art refers to artistic practices or works that utilize digital technology as an essential component of both the creation and presentation process. Since the 1970s, various terms like multimedia and computer art have been used to describe this practice. Digital art is a subset of the broader category known as new media art, which has brought significant changes to the art world. Technology has transformed traditional forms of painting, drawing, sound/music, and sculpture into new digital formats, expanding the possibilities of artistic expression.

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Thomas Ruff

Chiracs battle, 1998

30 x 22.5 cm

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Thomas Ruff