Untitled Film Still #53 1980

Cindy Sherman made this photograph, Untitled Film Still #53, using herself as the primary material. She explores the material of identity itself, shaping her appearance through costume, makeup, and pose. The black and white photography connects to the history of cinema and the way women have been represented on film. Sherman carefully crafts the scene, using the tools and techniques of commercial image-making, such as lighting and staging. She's not just taking snapshots; she's constructing a character. The labor involved isn't about traditional artistic skill, but rather the work of performing an identity. This involves the social context of film production and distribution, commenting on female roles in media. Sherman questions the authenticity of these roles. She implies how they're manufactured and consumed, in both film and real life. By foregrounding the artifice, Sherman invites us to reconsider the easy distinctions we make between fabrication and reality, challenging the traditional boundaries of art and craft.