Fashion Study c. 1970s

Deborah Turbeville created this ‘Fashion Study’ using a now-unknown process with dimensions of approximately 7 by 9 centimetres. The sepia-toned photograph plunges us into a softly blurred, seemingly bygone scene, where figures stand poised with foils, engaging in what seems to be a fencing practice reflected in a large mirror. The composition is intriguing. Turbeville plays with space and perspective, using the mirror not just to reflect but to create layers of reality. We see figures both directly and as reflections, which complicates our understanding of the scene and questions the stability of what we perceive. Turbeville often challenges conventional ideas of beauty and representation in fashion photography. The soft focus and muted tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, disrupting clear narratives. The photograph then becomes an exploration of memory and representation, where the mirror acts as a device that offers multiple perspectives. Ultimately, Turbeville invites us to see beyond the surface, engaging with the underlying structures that shape our perceptions of reality.