Untitled, No 199

Cindy Sherman (born 1954)

V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum)

1989

Deliberately untitled work from the History Portraits series. The artist appears in the guise of Marth Washington (1731-1802), wife of the first President of the United States. Turning to face us in three-quarter profile, she adopts a modest pose typical of 18th century female portraits, with her gaze demurely cast to one side. Her hands are pressed closed to her body, clutching a closed fan. As with all of Sherman's photographs there is something disconcerting about the image which makes us question the convention she adopts - for example, the shiny face, sunburnt face and glassy eyes reflecting the studio lights confront us with the real woman behind the costume.

• Medium: C-print framed in silver
• Dimensions: 63.5 x 45.7cm
• ArtFunded in: 2003
• Presented by JPMorgan Chase through The Art Fund

Provenance

JPMorgan Chase.

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