Untitled (Silueta series) 1978

Ana Mendieta made this photograph of a Silueta, or silhouette, sometime in the 1970s using earth, and probably also water, maybe some binding material. It’s all about process, the way the earth yields to the impression of the body, and the way the camera captures that moment of contact. Look at the texture of the earth, the way it’s been raked or scored to create this shape. It’s not just about the form of the body, but about the physicality of engaging with the earth, a kind of haptic, bodily knowledge. And then there’s this dark, almost gothic shape near the top of the silhouette – is it a shadow? A bird? Whatever it is, it adds a layer of mystery and unease. Mendieta’s work reminds me of Carolee Schneemann, another artist who wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, who knew that art is about so much more than just making pretty pictures. It’s about exploring what it means to be alive, to be human, to be connected to the world around us. And it doesn’t give you any easy answers.