"This is the only way Sara would pose for a picture, being dressed in this disguise" 1957

This little black and white photograph, of unknown date and authorship, is full of surprises. It presents a figure, Sara, but only under the condition of disguise. The composition is straightforward, almost like a snapshot, but it's the layers of artifice that really grab you. The figure is cloaked, masked, almost like a caricature of femininity, with exaggerated features that look like they've been drawn on with thick markers. Take a look at those eyebrows, so emphatically arched! The disguise itself seems to be performing, challenging our expectations of portraiture. The two framed photographs on the chest of drawers behind are of men in uniform: they're both looking directly into the camera, as though posing for their picture was simply a matter of pride. The humour in this work invites us to consider the endless variety of forms that art can take.