Untitled Film Still #30 1979

Cindy Sherman made this gelatin silver print as part of her Untitled Film Still series, which she began in the late 1970s. Can you imagine her setting the stage, dressing up, and arranging herself within the frame to evoke a mood, a character, a whole story? Looking at this image, I feel like she is inviting us into a private moment, or maybe a scene from a film we can’t quite place. The black and white tones give it a timeless quality, like an old movie still. And yet, there’s something so contemporary about her gaze, the way she captures vulnerability and strength at the same time. I am reminded of other artists who used their own bodies to explore identity like Hannah Wilke or, in a different way, Francesca Woodman. Sherman's work is a constant reminder that artists are always riffing off one another, borrowing, and building upon ideas across generations. It’s a conversation that keeps evolving, and we are all invited to participate by bringing our own experiences and interpretations to the mix.