Frankfurters-Hamburgers 1989

Robert Cottingham made this painting of "Frankfurters-Hamburgers" with a super clean, almost photographic approach. The smooth surfaces and crisp edges give it this Pop Art vibe, you know? Looking closely, I see how Cottingham obsesses over the textures of signs, brick, and glass. It’s like he's inviting you to wander around this urban corner, soaking in the realness of everyday city life. The light is so even, but then you notice how the shadows fall, and these shapes make the building look almost like a stage set. Think about the sign itself: "Frankfurters-Hamburgers." It's this slice of Americana, right? It's funny, because someone like Edward Hopper might make a similar painting, but it would have all this loneliness and nostalgia. Cottingham somehow avoids all that, keeping it cool, like a photograph in the style of Gerhard Richter. It's this interesting mix of distance and detail.