John Baldessari's "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" (1988) represents a distinctive period in the artist's career, highlighting his innovative approach to integrating text and imagery. This work consists of a set of thirty-nine photo-collages in three volumes, juxtaposed with text, offering a profound engagement with Laurence Sterne's 18th-century novel from which it takes its title. This project by Baldessari not only reflects his conceptual art practices but also his interest in the interplay between visual art and literature, exploring the boundaries and overlaps between these two forms of expression​ (Lannan Foundation)​.

The suite was produced as lithographs in color on paper, emphasizing Baldessari's skill in blending photographic elements with traditional printmaking techniques to create new narratives. This blend of media is indicative of Baldessari's broader artistic endeavors, which often involve the appropriation of images from various sources, recontextualized to challenge viewers' perceptions and understandings​ (Artsy)​.

Baldessari's work with "Tristram Shandy" exemplifies his exploration of the narrative structure and the ways in which stories can be told and experienced visually. By engaging with Sterne's text, known for its experimental narrative style and digressive storytelling, Baldessari invites viewers to consider the relationship between form and content, and the ways in which visual art can narrate or suggest stories beyond traditional linear narratives.

This work is a testament to John Baldessari's legacy as an artist who consistently sought to push the boundaries of conceptual art, using a wide range of media to explore the complexities of communication, perception, and representation.