“The Ohio Gang” is an artwork completed by R.B. Kitaj in 1964. This piece, executed using crayon and oil on canvas, measures 72 by 72 inches and aligns with the Pop Art movement. It is categorized as a nude painting. The artwork is part of the collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
The artwork presents a striking and disjointed composition with an array of figures and geometric shapes. The visual focus is a central female nude seated on a modernist stool, rendered in a manner that seems to draw influence from both illustrative and graphic styles. Her figure is characterized by a sense of linearity, punctuated by sharp contours and select flat areas of color. Around her, various forms and partial figures contribute to an environment that seems both disconnected and carefully arranged, creating a sense of narrative through the seemingly unconnected subjects. The use of vibrant colors, along with black and white sections, allows for a bold contrast and an abstracted depiction of space. Intermingled in the scene are renderings that resemble comic strips, further emphasizing the Pop Art attribute of the piece. The artwork as a whole appears to critique or reflect upon societal norms and the fragmentation of modern life, a common theme within this artistic movement.
