“Stop to see how everyday objects transform into art. This drawing uses a simple ballpoint pen to create a surprisingly intimate and thought-provoking image of bare feet alongside a familiar soup can, a playful nod to pop culture's rise.”
A pair of bare feet, rendered with a light, almost sketch-like touch, dominates this drawing. They rest casually, perhaps on a surface unseen, their forms suggested by the delicate lines of a black ballpoint pen. Tucked between the ankles is a familiar red and white Campbell's Soup can, instantly recognizable despite its small scale and the monochrome medium. The stark contrast between the human form and the mass-produced object creates a quiet, almost surreal juxtaposition. This drawing, made in 1960, reflects a moment when artists began to incorporate everyday items into their work, blurring the lines between high art and popular culture. The humble ballpoint pen, typically used for quick notes, elevates this casual scene, inviting a closer look at the ordinary.
- Artist
- Mogens Balle
- Date
- 1960
- Medium
- Black ballpoint pen on cream wove paper
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 43.3 × 35.2 cm (17 1/16 × 13 7/8 in.)
- Collection
- Prints and Drawings
- Culture
- United States
- Credit line
- Margaret Fisher Endowment
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The delicate cross-hatching and shading that define the contours of the feet.
The subtle indentation where the soup can rests between the ankles.
The distinct red and white label of the Campbell's Soup can, even in black and white.
The contrast between the organic lines of the feet and the rigid geometry of the can.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Feet with Campbell's Soup Can — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Mogens Balle
1921–1988 · Kingdom of DenmarkMogens Balle, a Danish painter, created vibrant, abstract works, often exploring the spontaneous and experimental.
Further Works by Balle
Daniel Webster
Art Institute of Chicago
The Ball
Art Institute of Chicago
The Masked Ball
Art Institute of Chicago
Vase
1948 · Art Institute of Chicago
Bottle
1950 · Art Institute of Chicago
Feet with Sea Shells
1960 · Art Institute of Chicago
Untitled
1966 · Art Institute of Chicago
Mt. Negoi in Transylvania Alps Near Faragas Romania Eur Asia
1967 · Art Institute of Chicago
More from CoBrA
More works to explore
Beyond Balle and CoBrA: works from the same years.
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Greyed Rainbow
Jackson Pollock · 1953 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Sun Spot
Yayoi Kusama · 1953 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Impregnazione
Piero Manzoni · 1958
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Essai
Sam Francis · 1963 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1940s–1970s
La grande bellezza
Pierre Alechinsky · 1965
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Alka Seltzer
Roy Lichtenstein · 1966 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Captain Joseph Medill Patterson
Ivan Puni · 1962 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Woman at the Piano
Philip Evergood · 1955 · Smithsonian American Art Museum
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Nude under a Pine Tree
Pablo Picasso · 1959 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Flag
Jasper Johns · 1958
Same era · 1940s–1970s
The Banquet
René Magritte · 1958 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1940s–1970s
Liz #3 [Early Colored Liz]
Andy Warhol · 1963 · Art Institute of Chicago

