Tobacco Rose from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II
Item
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Title
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Tobacco Rose from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II
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Description
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Tobacco Rose (1965) by Mel Ramos is a color screenprint from the 11 Pop Artists, Volume II portfolio, featuring a confident, nude pinup girl straddling an oversized pack of cigarettes. Published by Original Editions in an edition of 200, this 28 x 22-inch work blends consumer advertising imagery with female figures, a hallmark of 1960s Pop Art. The artwork depicts a seductive, nude female figure interacting with a commercial product (cigarettes), symbolizing the fusion of consumerism and sexuality in pop culture.
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Date
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1965, published 1966
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Material
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Screenprint from a portfolio of eleven screenprints, one with collage additions
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Measurements
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28 x 22 1/16inches (71.1 x 56cm); sheet: 30 x 24inches (76.2 x 61cm)
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Analysis
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Sexualized, stylized depictions of women for male consumption:
(21st century) In Tobacco Rose, Ramos combines the imagery of advertising with the pin-up style figure of a nude woman, directly linking sexuality to consumer culture. The figure is posed in a way that draws attention to her body while associating her with a commercial tobacco brand, blurring the line between product and person. Like much of Pop Art, the image feels playful and colorful, yet it also reflects how women’s bodies were frequently used in advertising to attract attention and sell products. Through this connection between sexuality and consumer imagery, the work highlights how visual culture reinforces the male gaze by presenting the female body as something to be looked at and consumed.
