Richard Prince's After Dark series, exhibited in 2009 at Gagosian's 980 Madison Avenue location in New York, presents a captivating collection of works that highlight Prince's continuous exploration of cultural and societal motifs through the lens of appropriation and recontextualization. This series includes a range of inkjet and acrylic paintings on canvas, such as "Untitled (Abu Simbel After Dark)," "Untitled (Casablanca After Dark)," and "Untitled (Rabat After Dark)," among others. The dimensions and techniques vary, showcasing Prince's adeptness at blending digital and traditional mediums to create complex visual narratives​ (Gagosian)​.

Prince, a pivotal figure in the Pictures Generation of the 1970s, has long been recognized for his innovative use of re-photography. By photographing pre-existing images from magazine ads and presenting them as his own, Prince challenges the viewer's perceptions of originality, authorship, and authenticity. This method not only questions the constructs of identity and gender within the media but also delves into the intricate dynamics of desire and power that permeate our cultural consciousness​ (Phillips)​.

The After Dark series extends this exploration, employing images that evoke the exotic and the nocturnal to examine the ways in which these themes are constructed and consumed within popular culture. Each piece in the series acts as a window into Prince's critical engagement with the imagery of the American and global psyche, offering a layered and nuanced critique of the visual vernacular that defines our contemporary landscape.

Prince's work, including the After Dark series, thus stands as a testament to his ongoing interrogation of the visual codes that shape our understanding of the world around us, highlighting his role as both a chronicler and critic of the American visual experience.