Accession Number
2010/2.47.2

Title
Bastienne, from "The Silver Edition, Volume I"

Artist(s)
Ralph Gibson

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1987

Medium & Support
photograph on fiber paper

Dimensions
19 1/16 in x 13 in (48.5 cm x 33 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Selma and Gerry Lotenberg

Subject matter
This is the cover photograph for Ralph Gibson's book, "Infanta", (1995) that presented a group of his photographic studies of women. His abstraction of facial features against a blank black background reveals his formalist, yet sensual approach. "When I make a photograph, I move in closer and I take things away, and I take things away, until I get everything out the frame except what I want. Therefore my process is considered subtractive." [www.bermangraphics.com/press/ralphgibson.htm]

Physical Description
This black and white photograph shows a portion of a woman's face against a solid black background. It is a close-up view of her right cheek, eye and eyebrow. She is gazing downward so the lashes and lid partially cover her eye.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Primary Object Type
black and white print

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
eyes (animal components)
photographs