Althouse: "The photographs are not self-portraits but rather depictions of invented personas and tableaus..."

February 24, 2012

"The photographs are not self-portraits but rather depictions of invented personas and tableaus..."

"... shot in her studio without the help of any assistants, costume designers or hair and make-up experts."

20 comments:

chickelit said...: Looks like she's got a bit of an axe wound to grind.; 2/24/12, 10:47 AM
edutcher said...: And now we can all do it with Photoshop.; 2/24/12, 10:48 AM
kristinintexas said...: Yikes! Definitely NSFW.; 2/24/12, 10:56 AM
MadisonMan said...: That set of pictures does not make me want to see more.; 2/24/12, 11:05 AM
roesch/voltaire said...: Thanks for posting these; I have been an admirer of hers for a long time--interesting to see her moving from the cool and flat b&W image to a "hotter" exaggerated poise.; 2/24/12, 11:13 AM
Anonymous said...: I like many of the images (particularly the study in orange). Before looking at the pictures, though, I was horrified because I misread the title as "The Many Faces of Cindy Sheehan".; 2/24/12, 11:17 AM
FleetUSA said...: Another talented egocentric artist for the media to swoon over. Move along.; 2/24/12, 11:21 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Thank you!

Finally I understand why that photograph is the most expensive ever. Gizmodo noted it when it was sold but they totally mocked it. There was nothing about any of this. The grotesque one near the bottom made me spit my coffee, and the whole thing made me fall in love with her.; 2/24/12, 11:24 AM
Ann Althouse said...: She's been around a long time. I used to be annoyed by what I thought was overpraise, but now I really admire the work.; 2/24/12, 11:26 AM
Jeff with one 'f' said...: I've met her. She came across as a narcissistic hack.; 2/24/12, 11:28 AM
Icepick said...: I like the one of her as a Shakespearean Klingon the best.; 2/24/12, 11:37 AM
Anonymous said...: Disgusting. I was wondering how and when Althouse was going to rid her blog of the conservative readers who came aboard during the Walker debacle. This proved to be a good way. Later hypocrites.; 2/24/12, 12:24 PM
Henry said...: I admire her craftsmanship. I admire her intentional choice to get beyond her generic beauty. She's been at this work for a long time with real discipline and that's admirable.

But I'm kind of bored by it too.

@Mun -- You're kind of new around here, aren't you. You think politics are combative? They're nothing compared to art.; 2/24/12, 12:40 PM
Widely Seen said...: We first encountered Cindy Sherman's work on a train trip through Switzerland -- there was an exhibit in Basel in 1994. The images were quite striking and stayed with one over time.
Now we can spot them at a distance, in print or person.
I think that's some definition of art and an artist...; 2/24/12, 12:44 PM
TMink said...: I think these rock! Thanks for the link and sharing!

Trey; 2/24/12, 1:00 PM
TMink said...: Muns, I am certainly one of the conservative Althousians and I think these photos are killer. Do you think they are trash, or do you think conservatives would be offended by nudity?

I don't understand your point.

Trey; 2/24/12, 1:02 PM
ricpic said...: That she's quite taken with herself in an I'm not taken with myself at all way is obvious.; 2/24/12, 2:35 PM
joated said...: I'm with MadisonMan. After looking at those photos, I've no interest in any of her work.; 2/24/12, 2:37 PM
Old RPM Daddy said...: I'm with Joated and MadisonMan. Whatever these photos were supposed to do, they're not doing it for me.

On the other hand, my art appreciation ability extends no further than, "Oh, what a lovely picture of a ducky."; 2/24/12, 2:58 PM
David said...: Some of the images get your attention, but what is she, an artist or a publicist? I do love that all of this came out of that prim young woman in the 50's hat in the top photo.; 2/24/12, 8:26 PM