- Artist
- Robert Mapplethorpe 1946–1989
- Medium
- Photograph, gelatin silver print on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 341 × 341 mm
frame: 686 × 659 × 28 mm - Collection
- ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland
- Acquisition
- ARTIST ROOMS Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008
- Reference
- AR00228
Online caption
As in his portrait of Nick Marden, Mapplethorpe photographs himself from behind, but here the emphasis is on abstract design. The “V”-shape of the wall-mounted frame (actually one of Mapplethorpe’s own sculptures) echoes the diagonals of his heavily coiffed hair and intersects the inverted “V”-shape of the white piping on his leather jacket. The effect is very art deco. Surface style takes precedence over character depiction or psychological insight.
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