Untitled, from The Indomitable Spirit portfolio
Artist
Cindy Sherman
(American, born 1954)
Date1979, printed 1989
MediumC-print color photograph
DimensionsFrame: 28 × 32 in. (71.1 × 81.3 cm)
Sheet: 20 × 24 in. (50.8 × 61 cm)
Sheet: 20 × 24 in. (50.8 × 61 cm)
ClassificationsPhotographs
Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds from The Ringling Museum of Art Investment Trust Fund, 1990
Object numberSN8988.4
Cindy Sherman studied film and photography at Buffalo State College. Her decision to pursue photography was borne of a belief that it was the most appropriate medium to express American media-dominated culture. After moving to New York City, she quickly became known for her black and white stills, in which she portrayed herself as parodies of female stereotypes, particularly as the vulnerable voluptuous blonde. In the Ringling photograph, Sherman builds on this role. The model (Sherman) is pictured painting her toenails with a cigarette hanging from her lips and gazing over the top of her sunglasses as if she has just been altered to a suspicious noise. The viewpoint of the camera, which is somewhat obscured by leaves in the foreground, gives the entire photograph a voyeuristic lens, suggesting that is us who have just betrayed our uninvited gaze. This is one of two photographs we have by Cindy Sherman in the collection and in both instances, she is the model and the subject matter.
On View
On viewLocation
- Searing Wing, Gallery B, wall, north
