A conceptual work by Edward Ruscha featuring a 1968 photograph mounted on wood veneer, exploring themes of social exchange and personal archiving.

Edward Ruscha is known for his interest in the mundane aspects of American life, often using photography to document the ordinary. This piece, titled Business Cards, reflects his engagement with the intersection of personal identity and commercial ephemera. The work features a black and white photograph mounted onto a wood veneer backing, secured with leather thongs. The photograph captures a social scene, dated 3 January 1968, showing two men shaking hands in a restaurant setting. The inclusion of a date stamp on the photograph itself aligns with Ruscha's practice of using documentary-style imagery to record specific moments in time.

The physical construction of the piece, with its faux-wood surface and manual binding, suggests a scrapbook aesthetic. This choice of materials contrasts with the formal nature of the business card, which typically serves as a professional identifier. By presenting this scene in such a tactile, almost domestic format, Ruscha invites the viewer to consider the performative nature of professional networking. The handwritten inscription adds a layer of personal provenance, grounding the work in a specific social exchange. The work functions as a record of a meeting, yet it remains detached, typical of Ruscha's approach to his subjects. It avoids grand narratives, focusing instead on the quiet, often overlooked details of daily existence. The composition is straightforward, with the photograph acting as the central element against the textured background. This piece provides a glimpse into the artist's conceptual framework, where the act of collecting and archiving personal history becomes the art itself.