Untitled #66 1980

Cindy Sherman made this Untitled #66 with photography, a medium so many think of as a direct representation of reality. But of course, that’s not how Sherman uses it. Look at the almost monochromatic blue-green tint that casts a surreal light across the image; it’s a choice, a way of seeing. This isn't about capturing a moment, but constructing one. The grainy texture, the almost blurry focus—it’s all part of the feeling she’s creating, a sort of lonely nostalgia. It speaks to me of that strange mix of vulnerability and performance that we all put on, a carefully constructed persona. Look at the way her gaze meets ours, questioning, almost challenging. Sherman plays with identity, with how we perceive ourselves and each other. It's almost like she’s saying, ‘Here I am, but who am I, really?’ And that, my friends, is a question worth pondering, not just about art, but about life. Reminds me a little of Eleanor Antin.