Over the course of his prolific, influential career, Sol LeWitt produced more than 1,200 wall drawings. Although LeWitt’s wall drawings evoke the tradition of Italian fresco paintings, they have established a distinct tradition of their own, in which linear systems, determined by LeWitt in advance, are carried out by others, be they artists, trained assistants, or novice volunteers, based upon his instructions. This work is installed based on the following instructions, contained in a signed certificate which alone establishes the authenticity of the work: “Vertical and horizontal straight lines intersecting, drawn as long as the draftsman can reach with one stroke (standing in one place).” LeWitt compared his role to that of a composer who creates a score that may be played by musicians for generations to come. The concept—or score—remains constant, but the wall drawing, like a musical performance, will vary slightly each time it is realized anew.
