Photographer
by Kylee Jo Diedrich
Francesca Woodman was an American Photographer known for her black and white surrealist portraits. During her short life time between 1958-1981 she produced over 800 images. Woodman was influenced by conceptualism and used motifs similar to those used in Vanitas paintings; skulls, birds, mirrors. Her work can be compared or held next to Man Ray's and Hans Bellmer for their surrealism styles. In an interview Woodman stated she used her self as a model merely for convenience.
She was born in Boulder, Colorado and then attended Rhode Island School of Design and traveled to Rome with the honors program. She moved New York City, NY to create work just before she committed suicide at 22 years old. Some of her exhibition achievements include solo shows at the Museum of Modern Art San Francisco, and the Guggenheim Museum to name a few.
Francesca Woodman is interesting to me because of her hauntingly beautiful photographs and how she uses the human form and the camera to create abstract and surreal images. She was around before photoshop and yet created work that challenge photoshop artists.
My favorite pieces are Providence, Rhode Island, 1975-1978 and Roma, 1977-1978. The two are my favorite because they challenge the viewer. Her work makes the viewer stare at the photograph and the image starts unfolding before ones eyes and then they are in awe.
Since Francesca passed away before creating a website . Art Net has made a simple and elegant website to provide prints for people to purchase and view her works. The site reflects the simplicity in her photographs and does not distract the viewer.
She also has a documentary about her life on youtube. The video helps understand her work and life as a photographer.
* on what level do you as landscape photog, relate to her work. Can she teach you anything?
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