Lot 37
  • 37

Francesca Woodman

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Francesca Woodman
  • 'Untitled' (from the Swan Song series), Providence, Rhode Island, 1978
  • 107.4 x 119.9 cm (42¼ x 47 in.)
Chromogenic print, printed later by her estate, flush-mounted to aluminum. With a gallery label bearing information about the work in facsimile affixed to the back of the mount. Edition 1/10. Framed. 

Provenance

Victoria Miro Gallery, London 
Private collection, UK

Condition

This print is overall very good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

The meaning of Francesca Woodman’s work has always been subject of debate. Some argue her main theme was feminism, exploring the way women were forced to conceal and disguise their true selves through her self-portraiture. Others classify her as a Surrealist photographer, drawing similarities with artists such as Man Ray or Hans Bellmer. However, what can clearly be understood through her work is her deep understanding of the medium as a tool for self exploration. In spite of her short career due to her untimely death in 1981 at the age of 22, she produced over 800 untitled prints. Woodman's photographs are full of ambiguities and a feeling of disconnection from her time. The spaces she chose to shoot in and the props in her work refer back to an earlier era, almost portraying herself as an outsider from the world she was living in.