In the 1980s, John Baldessari continued to push the boundaries of conceptual art, using his signature blend of appropriated images and text to explore the nature of visual language and perception. This decade saw him perfecting his printmaking techniques, notably with the portfolio "Black Dice" (1982), which marked a significant period in his career. Baldessari's work during this time involved using found photographs from early Hollywood films, newspaper images, and postwar advertising as source materials. He was intrigued by the generic nature of these images and their role in creating a shared visual culture, probing into how they can reveal subconscious thoughts and uncover the viewer's emotional baggage​ (Art21 Magazine)​. His exploration into printmaking was partly inspired by his interest in linguistic theory and semiotics, drawing from theorists like Wittgenstein and Barthes. "Black Dice" involved dissecting a still from a crime movie into nine parts, creating a plate for each section and exploring how to build a visual narrative from its basic elements. This process was a departure from his usual method, as Baldessari personally worked on the plates, inspired by Goya's technique in aquatint, under the guidance of Master Printer Peter Kneubühler​ (Art21 Magazine)​. Another significant series from the 1980s is "Hegel’s Cellar" (1986), which combined Baldessari’s interests in philosophy and identity. He used stock imagery in montages to suggest Hegel’s theory of an unconscious psychic space where images are preserved. This series further explored themes of group think and individuality, with Baldessari covering faces in his stock imagery with dots to generalize them rather than personalize them. This technique forced viewers to focus on other aspects of the composition that might otherwise be overlooked​ (Art21 Magazine)​. The late 1980s also saw Baldessari making a major shift in his approach to presentation with prints like "The Fallen Easel" (1988). He juxtaposed unrelated photographs to suggest a mysterious or ominous undercurrent, using technical advances in printmaking to dictate the form and position of each element in these works more precisely. This period marked a growing complexity in Baldessari’s use of found imagery, setting the stage for his later work, which would increasingly incorporate color and explore beyond basic primary and secondary color palettes​ (Art21 Magazine)​. John Baldessari's work in the 1980s, characterized by a deep engagement with the conceptual underpinnings of art, continued to influence and shape the trajectory of contemporary art. His innovative approaches to printmaking and his exploration of visual language and semiotics during this decade underscored his status as a pioneering figure in conceptual art​ (The Art Story)​​ (Art21 Magazine)​​ (Art21)​.