Sci-Fi Mountain Climber 

Don Ivan Punchatz made this striking image of a Sci-Fi Mountain Climber using acrylic paint on illustration board. The smooth, controlled application of the paint is key to its effect. At first glance, it may seem to belong to the world of high art but think about the context in which it was made. It was created as a book cover, not as an artwork intended for a gallery. This means that Punchatz worked within the modes of production and capitalism. He was providing a service that required a certain kind of manual skill. Acrylics allowed the artist to achieve very fine detail and smooth gradations of color, and to achieve this, Punchatz would have needed great skill. This skill, and the labor that it represents, is part of the work's appeal. When we look at this image, we aren't just looking at fantasy—we're looking at someone's work.