“Wrong” Baldessari, 1967

 

The photograph “Wrong!” is appreciated by many for its unique composition and its idea. Baldessari stated, “I will not make any more boring art”; by that, he meant he would not make any more art that followed the traditional principles of photography. Without context, this piece may seem poorly composed, with no color, out of focus, and awkward framing, almost as if it were meant to be “rebellious” for no clear reason. However, with a better understanding of the artist’s intent, Baldessari purposefully “broke” the rules of photography, labeling the work “Wrong.” For example, Baldessari ignores the rule of thirds, placing the subject in the center of the frame with a palm tree that seems to grow out of the subject’s head. This framing creates a sense of discomfort and a sense of need to correct the photograph. Additionally, there are no vibrant colors in this photograph; making it seems more depressing than aesthetic. Together, this enforces Baldessari’s message behind the creation of this piece that differentiates this photograph from any ordinary pictures taken with no thought of the photography rules, “why should we conform to conventional aspects of art or photograph, why does our work have to be judged?”(Wrong). Context adds much more depth as it invites the viewers “into the artist’s world offering glimpses into their experiences, beliefs, and creative processes” (The Thomas-Ferdinand Gallery), making each piece more meaningful and appreciated.

Works cited:

“Context – its about the title – Blog Post 1” ISB, https://dx.isb.cn/dash/#/classroom/648607/sections/lesson/344114/page/344116. Accessed 20 January 2026.

Baldessari, John “Wrong” Photograph. Dragon’s Exchange, ISB, 22nd August 2024. https://dx.isb.cn/dash/#/classroom/648607/sections/lesson/344114/page/344116/edit, Accessed 20 January 2026.

The Thomas-Ferdinand Gallery. “The Importance of Context in Art.” The Thomas-Ferdinand Gallery, 3 Apr. 2025, thomas-ferdinand.com/article/the-beauty-of-context/?srsltid=AfmBOorm6gkRpumCtrX6xQpIaLw88E8D2fuT9mjeD-sBh6s2_feSS6S5.

“Wrong, 1967 – John Baldessari – WikiArt.org.” www.wikiart.org, www.wikiart.org/en/john-baldessari/wrong-1967.