Dimensions: support: 341 x 341 mm
Copyright: © Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: Here we have Robert Mapplethorpe’s photograph of Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s stark, the black and white really accentuates the, well, everything! I'm curious – what do you see in this portrait that maybe isn't immediately obvious? Curator: Mapplethorpe, ever the provocateur, uses classic sculptural poses with a modern celebrity. It's like a Greek god has wandered into the late 20th century, hasn't he? The ornate curtain versus the simplicity of Schwarzenegger's pose? Think about that contrast. It's not just about muscles; it's about power, presentation, and maybe a little humor, don't you think? Editor: I hadn't considered the humor, but now I see it! The juxtaposition makes it playful. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Art is always a conversation, isn't it?
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http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/mapplethorpe-arnold-schwarzenegger-ar00213
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In this full-length black and white portrait photograph, the Austrian bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger is shown semi-nude, performing a body-building pose in the artist’s studio. He is positioned to the right of the picture frame with his left hand clamped over his right wrist, allowing him to flex the muscles of his upper body. Schwarzenegger’s weight is placed on his left leg, which is relatively relaxed, while the right side of his body is tensed to the extent that his right foot almost leaves the wooden floor on which he stands. The right side of his body is tilted slightly towards the viewer, emphasising the musculature of his right bicep, thigh and calf muscles. Schwarzenegger poses in front of a blank white wall to the left of a large paisley-patterned curtain, which balances the composition. He gazes directly at the viewer with a serious, slightly blank expression.
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