Ed Paschke (American, 1939 - 2004)

‘Rosarita’, 1973

black and white lithograph, ed. 195/200

Collection of Rockford Art Museum

Gift of Barbara and Harold Klawans

“One thing that makes Ed Paschke’s work immediately recognizable is his celebration of figures that subvert accepted norms and embrace a certain ‘weirdness’. Although Paschke is more frequently known for his fluorescent and borderline psychedelic shape-shifting figures, ‘Rosarita’ invokes a more subtle sense of the uncanny. Paschke’s characters frequently blend traditional depictions of men and women to create a seamless and surreal composite of the human figure. What makes ‘Rosarita’ distinguished in Paschke’s unique way, is an unexpected combination of rippled abs, dainty arms, armpit hair, a pronounced jawline, narrowly plucked eyebrows, and pinstriped string bikini.

Interestingly, Rosarita’s hairstyle would have been fairly out of place in 1973 (the year this piece was created,) but would have been much more common in the 1950s. This is the same era in which the practice of female body hair removal (a practice that has come and gone out of style for millennia) had risen to popularity in the United States. In light of the fact that the human body, and women’s bodies in particular have long been the site of various culture wars, Paschke’s ‘Rosarita’ celebrates a special archetype: a human being proud to be unique, and unafraid of what the world thinks.”

- Frances Downey (Assistant Curator)

‘Rosarita’ is currently on view as part of the Permanent Collection exhibition, “Night Vision”. Galleries are open Thursday through Sunday from 10 to 5 with free admission.