Martini 1994

John Register’s 'Martini' invites us into a world of leisure and perhaps, a touch of ennui. We see a man in a suit, sprawled on a patio chair, a half-empty martini glass casting a long shadow beside him. Painted in America, possibly in the 1970's or 80’s, this image speaks to a specific cultural moment. The figure's posture and attire suggest a critique of the American Dream, with its emphasis on material success and social expectations. Is this the picture of the successful businessman at leisure? Or does the painting suggest something more complicated – the emptiness that can lie beneath the surface of affluence? As art historians, we delve into the social and institutional contexts to understand the full picture. Examining publications from the period, considering the art market, and exploring social trends—all of this can help us better understand the cultural narratives at play in Register’s work. What does it mean to be a man in a suit in this time period? What are the politics of leisure? What are the social conditions that shape artistic production? These are the questions a historian will consider.