John Baldessari's Prima Facie series, created in 2005 and extending into 2006, is a profound exploration of the equivalence and interchangeability of words and images, a theme that has pervaded much of Baldessari's work. The series is characterized by its use of diptychs that juxtapose an archival pigment print on one side with a panel of acrylic paint on canvas on the other. This format is consistently applied across various pieces within the series, such as "Prima Facie (Fifth State): Love and Happiness," "Drop Dead Gorgeous," and "Marilyn’s Dress," all from 2006. Each work measures 134 × 215 cm, underscoring the grand scale of Baldessari's conceptual inquiries​ (Sprüth Magers)​.

A defining aspect of the Prima Facie series is Baldessari's intention to find "equivalents" between a single word and the weight it carries alongside a photograph. This pursuit is rooted in the understanding that the actors and actresses depicted in these images portray "fake emotions," challenging viewers to reconsider their initial judgments or conclusions drawn at "first sight" (the English translation of "Prima Facie"). Baldessari's approach raises intriguing questions about the authenticity of expressions and the subjective nature of interpreting emotions and states of being through visual cues. This exploration is particularly evident in pieces like "Prima Facie (Second State): Apprehensive" (2005), where the artist teases the viewer into contemplating what apprehensiveness truly looks like. This work, as with others in the series, plays with the ambiguity and play between visual and textual languages, activating a dialogue as these languages are "read" and interpreted​ (QAGOMA Collection Online)​.

The series not only demonstrates Baldessari's mastery in blending images with text to create new meanings and narratives but also reflects his broader commentary on the nature of art, perception, and communication. Through the Prima Facie series, Baldessari continues to challenge conventional readings of images, encouraging viewers to engage with the underlying complexity of seemingly straightforward juxtapositions. This body of work stands as a testament to Baldessari's role as a pivotal figure in contemporary art, whose influence extends across generations of artists and viewers alike, inviting us to reconsider the ways in which we perceive and interpret the visual world.