Untitled Film Still #31 1979

This is one of Cindy Sherman's black and white photographs, part of her Untitled Film Stills series. Sherman’s a master of disguise, and here, she's playing a role, but it's not just about dressing up. It's about the process of becoming someone else, or maybe becoming a stereotype. The dark tones and the way the light catches her face give it a dramatic, almost theatrical feel. The texture of the backdrop looks almost velvety, contrasting with the smooth surface of her skin. The way she’s glancing off to the side, what is she looking at? What's about to happen? It reminds me a little of some of the earlier noir films, but with a modern, self-aware twist. Like maybe Sherman's saying something about women’s roles, or how we look, or how we're looked at. Which is something so many artists have explored. There are echoes of Hannah Hoch and Claude Cahun too, and others working in similar veins. Ultimately it's up to us to decide what we think this all means, which is something that feels very modern, don't you think?