Sarah Charlesworth

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner, 1984

This work is in very good condition overall. There is a minute abrasion to the surface in the upper center of the composition. There are minor nicks to the frame at all four corners. It appears that the frame has been inpainted at the upper right corner and in areas along the right edge. Framed in the original frame.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Each of the "objects" depicted in Sarah Charlesworth's series Objects of Desire is removed from its visual context, appearing instead as a detached fragment hovering in a lush field of color.  Isolated from the signifiers we use as cultural reference points, they reveal much about our assumptions and values.

In the present work, Charlesworth subverts our expectation of gender roles and the stereotype of the passive Japanese female.  The image is not of a geisha but of a male Kabuki actor.  In Kabuki, a genre of Japanese theatre that originated in the early 17^th century, female roles are traditionally played by cross-dressing men who in the early days were also available for hire as prostitutes.   In Kabuki, the color red is traditionally associated with passion, heroism and righteousness.  Charlesworth's gender bending image challenges both our sexual and cultural assumptions, framing the passive, androgynous male as our object of desire.