National Gallery 1, London

Artist Thomas Struth (German, 1954-)

Date1989

MediumCibachrome print

DimensionsFrame: 72 3/16 × 78 7/16 in. (183.4 × 199.2 cm)
Sheet: 71 × 77 1/4 in. (180.3 × 196.2 cm)
Image: 52 13/16 × 59 7/8 in. (134.1 × 152.1 cm)

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds from The Ringling Museum of Art Investment Trust Fund, 1990

Object numberSN11009

Thomas Struth, a German photographer who trained in Düsseldorf and worked with Gerhard Richter from 1973-80, is best known for his series entitled Museum Photographs. These unstaged or altered monumental pictures feature people visiting major museums, churches, and other cultural destinations. Struth endeavors to examine the museum visitor's relationship with works of art-in this case, literally as they appear to be an extension of the painted space. Stepping in to take a closer look, one spectator in National Gallery 1 mimics the posture of the disciple in the Renaissance painting on the wall, while the stance of another echoes the pose of Christ. This large-scale photograph is exquisite not only in its composition and subject matter, but also for its technical quality.

On View

Not on view