John Baldessari's "National City" series, produced between 1966 and 1968, represents a seminal phase in the artist's career, marked by a radical re-evaluation of the principles of authorship, originality, and aesthetic judgment. Born and residing in National City, California, Baldessari infused this series with a deep, personal insight into the everyday landscapes of his hometown, capturing its essence through a blend of photography and text. This innovative fusion would become a hallmark of his work, distinguishing him as a pivotal figure in the Conceptual art movement.

The "National City" paintings are characterized by their use of photographic imagery—snapshots of mundane scenes from around National City, taken by Baldessari himself—combined with text executed by a professional sign-maker. This approach marked a pivotal moment in Baldessari's practice, as he shifted towards a more conceptually driven methodology, laying the groundwork for his later contributions to Conceptual art. One of the defining aspects of these works is their exploration of the authenticity of art-making, a theme that resonates with the broader concerns of the Conceptual art movement at the time.

A key piece within this series is "Duck Pond Bar, National City, California," which epitomizes Baldessari's early experiments with blending photographic and textual elements. This work, along with others in the series, documents the seemingly ordinary aspects of National City, yet does so in a way that challenges conventional notions of what constitutes art. Through these pieces, Baldessari sought to present his environment "as it is," without romanticization, believing in the intrinsic beauty of truth, no matter its aesthetic qualities. His method of capturing images—spontaneously, from the window of his car—was emblematic of his desire to avoid the artificial enhancement of his subjects, aiming instead for an unmediated portrayal of reality.

Baldessari's intent with the "National City" series was not just to document his immediate surroundings but to engage with broader questions about the nature of art itself. By pairing everyday scenes with textual descriptions, he invited viewers to reconsider their preconceptions about the relationship between image and text, and between the mundane and the artistic. This series, therefore, stands as a critical investigation into the construction of artistic meaning and the role of the artist in determining what is considered worthy of artistic attention.

Furthermore, the "National City" paintings capture a specific moment in American urban and suburban life, reflecting Baldessari's acute sense of place and his ability to find profundity in the banal. The series is a testament to Baldessari's innovative spirit and his contribution to the redefinition of art in the late 20th century. Through these works, he not only documented the landscape of his hometown but also questioned and expanded the boundaries of art itself.

In the years following the creation of the "National City" series, Baldessari continued to explore the intersection of text and image, further solidifying his position as a central figure in the development of Conceptual art. The series remains a critical point of reference for understanding Baldessari's artistic evolution and the broader shifts in art practice during the 1960s and 1970s​ (Sothebys.com)​.