Analysis of A-1 Sauce by Ralph Goings

As you can tell, this is a painting of some condiments on a table, most likely in a Diner. In this painting, Ralph Goings added Heinz Tomato Ketchup and A-1 Sauce probably because that was sitting on every table in the Diner, for the customer’s usage. There is also Tabasco Sauce, a napkin dispenser, and a metal container sitting on the table in Ralph Goings painting. This picture that this painting is trying to resemble was probably taken at some well-known in town Diner, since Ralph loved painting objects in Diner’s. This painting was created in 1995, and during the 1990’s, Ralph Goings was going through a switch and he changed his style to painting the inside’s of Diner, before he liked painting outside objects and actions. He liked painting who was going to that Diner (people eating), what was being served and of course the variety of condiments laying on the table. He focuses his art on different kinds of condiments during this time period, he painted a photo-realistic picture of salt and pepper, but in this picture it seems his focus was on sauce condiments like ketchup, hot sauce, and steak sauce. When people first look at this picture, there eyes go directly to the A-1 Steak sauce because that is his focal point for this picture. Like a true Photo-realist, he adds a lot of details into this painting, almost as if it were the picture of this painting. An example of the detail that has been added is that he even added the words on the label of the A-1 Steak Sauce. What others should understand from this picture is that Ralph Goings wasn’t like other artist’s, he focused on little things, like condiments, that make up a bigger aspect, like the Diner, he thought there was so much more to it. I am sure many people look at this picture and think it is not very significant, especially because he has a couple of paintings of condiments that looks very similar to this one. But many don’t understand his meaning behind this picture, sure it is a picture of some condiments at a Diner, but what is that supposed to mean. Maybe his message was to look at details that make up a diner or restaurant, it’s not always about the overall picture, which is the Diner, but what makes up a diner which is food, people and condiments on the side. Ralph Goings started painting this picture with a thought in mind, what he was thinking is still untold, but many people have there own perspective on this painting.