The text on this John Baldessari canvas comes from a “how-to” art manual. “Probably in the mid-60s, I was really getting a little bit anxious, discontent, or disillusioned about art. I began to think that art might be more than just painting,” Baldessari said in a 2010 interview. “You know, certainly painting is a vital part of doing art, but there might be other ways to do art.” Baldessari’s paintings point out the absurdity of prevailing aesthetic attitudes. He follows the painting’s advice to “break all the so-called rules of composition,” which, ironically, actually means following the rules. And in another twist, by following the rules, Baldessari has also broken them—since these results certainly aren’t what the teaching manuals are calling for. What This Painting Aims to Do is on view now in our seventh floor galleries. — #JohnBaldessari, What This Painting Aims to Do, 1966-68. Acrylic and oil on canvas, 67 7/8 × 56 9/16 × 1 in. (172.4 × 143.7 × 2.5 cm). Whitney Museum of Ame...