Patti Smith Possibly 1978 - 2005

Editor: So, this is Robert Mapplethorpe’s portrait of Patti Smith, dimensions roughly 48 x 38 cm, part of the Tate collection. The black and white feels so raw and intimate. What do you see in it? Curator: I see two artists, really. Mapplethorpe, of course, but also Smith herself, crafting her own persona. The brick wall becomes a stage, the shawl a prop, and the gaze—that’s pure Patti, challenging, vulnerable, and utterly magnetic. It is a dance between photographer and subject, both pushing boundaries, wouldn't you say? Editor: Absolutely, it's like they are collaborating on the artwork itself. Thanks, I love that idea! Curator: My pleasure! A photograph is never just *of* something, but *with* someone.