Ad Hoc

Welcome to Ad Hoc, our newest feature on the art of advertising. We are proud to welcome Dr. Richard Zakia as the author of this page each month. Richard D. Zakia is Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology and author/coauthor of several books on photography, perception, semiotics and advertising.

For the New Year, Dr. Zakia continues his investigation of how advertising incorporates art.

Night Spice, the new fragrance for men, is based on a painting by which artist? (answer below)

A) Salvatore Dali

B) Man Ray

C) René Magritte

Answer: The picture in the Night Spice advertisement mimics the painting Le Reproduction Interdite (Not to be Reproduced) by René Magritte. (1896-1967). He was a witty Belgian painter who created thought- provoking paintings--paintings that challenged our cultural way of seeing and thinking. He has influenced the work of many followers: Jasper Johns, Duane Michals, Ed Ruscha, Jerry Uelsmann, Andy Warhol.

c. Corinne Whitaker 2010

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