Melancholy
- Artist: Martin Kippenberger
- Date: 1992
- Medium: Lithograph on paper
- Dimensions: image: 1084 x 838 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Melancholy” by Martin Kippenberger. Painted in 1992, it’s a lithograph on paper that doubles as a poster for Documenta IX in Kassel. Kippenberger, a German artist known for his sharp wit and social critique, never was officially invited to the show. Instead, he staged a playful coup: he photographed a street lamp he’d hung on the famous Walter de Maria vertical rod, turned it into a promotional image, and released the poster as a sly statement. The work shows his trademark blend of humor and irony, using everyday objects to question the structures of the art world. It’s one of the 178 posters Kippenberger produced over his career—a significant body of work that runs parallel to his paintings, sculptures, and performances. Critics have called his posters a perfect summation of his personality, reflecting the humor, clever references, and political edge that permeate his oeuvre. “Melancholy” is a concise yet powerful reminder of how a single image can carry a larger commentary on participation, authorship, and the role of the artist in cultural institutions.
See it in person
Melancholy is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
