strange victory, strange defeat ([info]andsqualor) wrote in [info]lemonadepoem,
2008-12-20 16:18:00
  • Mood: hopeful
  • Music: No Age

I could no longer play / I could not play by instinct, Providence 1977.


Bitch magazine's most recent issue has introduced me to surrealist-influenced American photographer Francesca Woodman. Born to artist parents in 1958, Woodman held an innate talent which was revealed in her first self-portraiture at age 13. During her brief life Woodman created over 800 prints, yet only around 120 have been released and/or exhibited. Her sometimes blurry yet always intricately composed photographs invite questioning about the female subjects she presents. What is she trying to express through the strange environments she places them in, both natural and modern? What is she saying about femininity? I'm not one for artistic critique or description, so I'd like to show a few of my favorites and invite you to explore her work further.


Angel Series, Rome 1977-1978.



Polka Dots #5, Providence 1976-1977.


Untitled, New York 1980.


Untitled, Providence 1976.


Sloan, Providence 1976.


Self Deceit 1, Rome 1978.


Angel Series, Rome 1977-1978.


On Being an Angel 1975-1978.


Her pictures are deeply arresting and it was very difficult to choose a handful to post here, so I'd like provide some links to her work. Her Wikipedia article lists the her few works that have been released and presents off-site links to photographs, while a YouTube search finds user-created slide shows of her photography. A quick search on Amazon.com seems to show that the only book she released during her lifetime (Some Distorted Interior Geometries) is out of print, but several books about are available. What do you think about her work? Endearingly bizarre or uselessly bizarre? Intense or just an intense headache?
Tags: guest post: andsqualor, photography post

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  • 33 comments

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[info]andsqualor

December 20 2008, 21:54:27 UTC 3 years ago

Glad to hear! I was hesitant to post about her suicide at age 22 because it instantly adds her to the pool of "tragic women artists", but I'm so intrigued by her.

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[info]andsqualor

3 years ago

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[info]andsqualor

3 years ago

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[info]exchangediary

3 years ago

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[info]andsqualor

3 years ago

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[info]bananafish42

3 years ago

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[info]bananafish42

3 years ago

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[info]stealmyhorses

3 years ago

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[info]ohmydearheart

3 years ago

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[info]surrealistes

December 20 2008, 22:16:08 UTC 3 years ago

francesca woodman is one of my favourite artists/photographers ever. i love her to death.

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[info]surrealistes

December 21 2008, 00:35:43 UTC 3 years ago

SAYS YOU.
<3

[info]herverses

December 20 2008, 22:25:37 UTC 3 years ago

Always loved her work, its always interesting to see how many people are inspired by her. If death havent got in the way I wonder what wonderful imagery she would have contributed to the world. I think what I adore most about her photographs is the sense of loneliness and mysticism. Her sets were so simple yet conveyed a message.

[info]fishnumber641

December 20 2008, 22:58:53 UTC 3 years ago

I love these.

[info]hensfourth

December 20 2008, 23:41:32 UTC 3 years ago

Bitch did a feature on her? Oh man, I can't wait to read it.

[info]andsqualor

December 21 2008, 18:43:35 UTC 3 years ago

They featured her in the Bitch List.

[info]suede

December 21 2008, 00:06:28 UTC 3 years ago

i love her :)

[info]surrealistes

December 21 2008, 00:41:39 UTC 3 years ago

i just have to post my favourite images by her, because they're not up here and i just love them so much. i don't know the names of them off the top of my head.









oh i love her so much. she is one of the only artists to ever make me cry.

[info]andsqualor

December 21 2008, 18:43:50 UTC 3 years ago

Thank you for posting more!

[info]surrealistes

3 years ago

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[info]faeriemaiden

December 21 2008, 01:59:21 UTC 3 years ago

These are lovely -- I love the way surrealist photography conveys the truth more deeply than straightforward photography often can.

[info]dirtysweeteacup

December 21 2008, 02:19:51 UTC 3 years ago

Absolutely incredible.

[info]nebris

December 21 2008, 03:40:18 UTC 3 years ago

I do not remember when or why I joined this community, but discovering this woman - who I shamefully admit to not knowing before - now fully justifies my membership here.

~M~

[info]andsqualor

December 21 2008, 18:44:56 UTC 3 years ago

I am really glad to hear that!

[info]coco73

December 21 2008, 06:57:08 UTC 3 years ago

I adore Francesca Woodman. I'd say she is one of my chief influences, actually.

[info]andsqualor

December 21 2008, 18:44:45 UTC 3 years ago

I would like to see your work!

[info]ohmydearheart

December 21 2008, 16:55:24 UTC 3 years ago

Your guests posts have been FTW this month. Seriously, you're ace!

[info]andsqualor

December 21 2008, 18:44:34 UTC 3 years ago

Thank you! I just looked at your lj and saw that we have a ton of friends in common. May I add you?

[info]ohmydearheart

3 years ago

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[info]andsqualor

3 years ago

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[info]exchangediary

December 21 2008, 19:58:41 UTC 3 years ago

Thanks for saving this community from my immense amounts of slack! These are gorgeous & thanks also for the text re: the new issue of Bitch. I picked it up yesterday & can't wait to read it. If you and Alana end up with any free time in Cleveland you should call me. I'd love to see you!

[info]holyfant

December 21 2008, 21:18:52 UTC 3 years ago

That's just so utterly, utterly amazing. Thank you.

[info]likeantelope

December 22 2008, 09:46:32 UTC 3 years ago

wow. so eerie but beautiful. thank you!

[info]cirkusflykten

January 8 2009, 05:51:22 UTC 3 years ago

I have always absolutely adored Francesca Woodman's work...it was a treasure to see in exhibition this summer, in München's Pinakothek der Moderne. Her photographs are beautiful, extremely powerful and melancholic. She is someone to admire.
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