Untitled 1-25-71 [study for "tattoo" book] 1971

"Untitled 1-25-71 [study for "tattoo" book]" is a study for a book by American artist James McCracken Jr. (1942-2017). The drawing is a study of skulls in profile, executed in black ink on white paper. It was created in 1971. The skull is a common motif in McCracken Jr.'s work, often used to represent the darker aspects of human nature. The simplicity of the line work and the stark contrast of black and white create a powerful and unsettling image. This drawing may have been intended for McCracken Jr.'s "Tattoo" book, an unpublished project.