Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass

Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass is an artist's book by Edward Ruscha, first published in 1968 and released in a second edition in 1976. The work features nine bold color offset prints of empty swimming pools found at budget motels in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, interspersed with blank pages and concluding with a single image of a broken glass against a blue background. It is noted for its minimalist aesthetic and the banality of its subject matter. Ruscha's use of photomechanical color offset prints on white paper creates a commercial feel, reflecting his interest in mass-produced products and the aesthetics of everyday life. The book serves as a significant example of his exploration of appropriation and the visual language of contemporary American culture.