Rat Tat Tat

Malcolm Morley American, born England

2001

Not on view

In this monumental painting Morley plays with repetition, replication, and the personal and political economies of images. Born in London, Morley often spoke of experiencing the German Luftwaffe bombing campaign of Britain during World War II and making balsa wood models of planes and battleships. These childhood memories informed his adult work, much of which portrays airplanes and fighter pilots. Produced in massive scale, Rat Tat Tat replicates three World War I fighter-plane model kits, merchandise that encouraged children to reenact war as if it were a game. Aspects of the painting, such as its onomatopoeic title and flattened toy parts with colorful geometric patterns, speak to Morley’s interest in Pop art as well as to the commodification of war.

Artwork Details

Title: Rat Tat Tat
Artist: Malcolm Morley (American (born England) London 1931–2018 New York)
Date: 2001
Medium: Oil on linen
Dimensions: 94 × 197 in. (238.8 × 500.4 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchase, George A. Hearn Fund, Kathryn E. Hurd Fund, and Andrew and Christine Hall Gift, 2013
Object Number: 2013.946
Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

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Goats in a Shed, Malcolm Morley American, born England, Color lithograph — Goats in a Shed
Malcolm Morley
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Necklace, Meta Overbeck American, Gold, emeralds, Montana sapphires, topazes, enamel, American — Necklace
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Louis C. Tiffany
Manufacturer Tiffany & Co.
ca. 1914–15

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