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.
More information
Title of artwork, date
Untitled, 1989
Date supported
2003
Medium and material
C-print framed in silver
Dimensions
63.5 x 45.7 cm
Gifted by
JPMorgan Chase
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