Untitled 1-17-71 [study for "tattoo" book] 1971

"Untitled 1-17-71 [study for "tattoo" book]" is a black and white ink drawing on paper by James McCracken Jr. from 1971. The artwork depicts a variety of symbols and images, including a skull, a heart, a gun, and a figure. These drawings are likely to have been studies for McCracken's later book "Tattoo" which is known for its surreal and grotesque imagery, and this drawing demonstrates McCracken's unique style in its use of bold lines and simple shapes, reflecting a raw, unsentimental vision. These studies, like his book, are a study on human nature and the way that violence and beauty are often intertwined.