Serpent Stripe 1962

"Serpent Stripe" (1962) by Derek Boshier is a playful and surreal artwork that combines Pop Art elements with a sense of the absurd. The image features a toothbrush with toothpaste coming out of it, forming a line that goes to a person's head. This line also becomes a snake. The snake's head is red and its body is blue, while the toothbrush and toothpaste are red, white, and blue, referencing American iconography. The simple, almost cartoonish figures and bright colors are characteristic of Boshier's style and his engagement with Pop Art's use of everyday imagery. This piece reflects Boshier's interest in exploring consumer culture and the anxieties of the Cold War era.