Melody: Back 2011

Mickalene Thomas's 2011 photograph "Melody: Back" is a striking example of her signature style, which combines elements of African American beauty culture with references to art history. The image features a Black woman, nude and partially draped in fabric, sitting on a bed covered in patterned textiles. The work is a black and white gelatin silver print and uses a complex interplay of light and shadow to draw attention to the subject's form and the rich textures of the fabrics. The overall composition evokes traditional portraiture while simultaneously challenging the typical representation of Black female bodies in art.