In this series of prints, Barbara Kruger used images reminiscent of the types found in advertising, an industry in which she had considerable experience. The addition of words as elements of design imbue the works with multiple levels of significance. “We Will No Longer Be Seen And Not Heard” is a poignant statement about communication. At the same time that it stirs up the debate about the contents of visual media, it also refers to a larger societal issue involving the silence of groups of people or individuals whose lives are often overshadowed by more vocal individuals. Sign language is used as another way of imparting ideas.

As a series of nine images that work together to present one message, these works relate to an old tradition in printmaking. Prints were made in pairs or related groups that enhanced each other’s meaning.