Untitled 1976

Curator: Here, we see an early black and white photograph by Cindy Sherman, "Untitled", dating from 1976. It’s a gelatin-silver print, showcasing Sherman's burgeoning interest in performance and constructed identity. Editor: My first thought? The mood feels so wonderfully awkward. It's that teenage boredom mixed with this almost studied indifference. Love the slightly too-big blazer! Curator: It’s interesting you say that. Because, in her early work, Sherman really grapples with those in-between spaces, particularly of female identity as constructed through media representation. She uses her own body, in this case, to probe at these complex visual narratives, inviting conversations around gender, performance, and authenticity. Editor: Authenticity, yes! It's almost as if she is waiting for a shoot to start... or finish. And there is the whole monochrome scheme with its slightly depressive, but always poetic take. It’s not the youthful vigor; she seems already tired in many ways, as a reflection of society. Curator: Exactly. Considering the context of 1970s postmodernism, the piece stands as a powerful challenge to traditional notions of selfhood and authorship. Through repetition and disguise, Sherman dismantles the idea of a stable, coherent identity, presenting it instead as fluid and performative. Feminist theory comes into play, highlighting how women are often positioned as objects of the male gaze. Editor: She really makes you wonder who she's trying to be—or maybe, more importantly, who she's being told to be. Curator: Absolutely. By consciously embodying these tropes, she exposes their constructedness, urging us to question the images that surround us. It's not just about what we see but how we see, through the lens of cultural conditioning. Editor: Looking at her, it is also so evident, at least to me, that art isn't just about the polished final product. There is a magic in works that whisper about beginnings and explorations... I wish I was so brave at that age. Curator: I agree, there's something so potent about seeing an artist find their voice, isn't there? In this "Untitled" piece, we witness Sherman’s groundbreaking exploration, setting the stage for a lifetime interrogation of identity, representation and power. Editor: A powerful glimpse indeed... Makes me think about all the possibilities still hidden in a black and white world.