Mel Bochner (American, b. 1940)
Head Honcho (MB6110), 2020
Monoprint in Oil with Collage, Engraving and Embossment on Handmade Paper
29 3/4 x 20 1/2 “ plus frame
Signed & dated Lower left
PRICE: on request
Bochner frequently explores language’s cultural weight, dissecting power dynamics and the subtext of colloquial expressions. In this work, the phrase “Head Honcho”—a term derived from Japanese “hancho” (squad leader) but now colloquially used in English to denote a boss or person in charge—is presented with Bochner’s signature wit and critique of authority. The materiality of the piece—its vibrant oil, collaged elements, and tactile embossments—enhances its physicality, inviting viewers to engage with the literal and figurative weight of the language. Bochner once said, “The thesaurus is my database, my dictionary, my compass.”
