Academic Exercise in Shading in which the Negative Proved to be Equally as Correct 1975

Robert Cumming's 1975 photograph "Academic Exercise in Shading in which the Negative Proved to be Equally as Correct" is a diptych that explores the interplay of positive and negative space. Two blackboards, one showing a drawing of basic geometric shapes and the other its negative space, are presented as two separate photographic panels. This black and white image is a clever commentary on the art world's focus on technique and the nature of representation. The piece invites the viewer to question the nature of reality, highlighting the inherent duality of artistic expression.