Richard Prince’s Wily 7-Hour ‘Deposition’ Video Is an Instant Classic
Under oath, with big money on the line, the appropriation pioneer puts in a gallant performance.
I know that I am going to lose many of you right here at the start, but I have to insist that you watch the nearly 7-hour video deposition of Richard Prince that the artist recently exhibited in Rome.
It is an unexpectedly captivating endurance piece—frustrating, illuminating, baffling, and sometimes pretty funny. The Pictures Generation pioneer, who just turned 75, is one of our sharpest artists, but he is also prolific and uneven. Deposition (2025) is Prince at his best. I savored it in hour-long chunks over a week, and it reminded me of his rare abilities, while in some small way refreshing my faith in art.
Let’s set the scene….