Robert Doherty 1975

Mike Mandel's "Robert Doherty" (1975) is a black and white photographic portrait of a man holding a large, blank, dark-colored object in front of his body. The object obscures most of the man's body, but his face and hands are visible, and he is dressed in a sweater, cap, and glasses. The photograph appears to be a headshot, with the man standing in front of an unidentifiable building. The work is a piece of conceptual photography that explores the nature of identity and representation. The blank object can be interpreted as a metaphor for the way in which our identities are often obscured by social expectations and conventions, while the man's name in the caption highlights the importance of individuality. Mandel is known for his use of found images and his interest in exploring the relationship between photography, language, and the real world.