Flowers and Black Dog

Joe Louis Light, Rebecca Light

1990

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A large-scale color photograph from a series commonly referred to as the "History Pictures," in which the artist created numerous images modeled on Renaissance-era European portrait painting. Sherman uses herself as the model in these pictures. Instead of directly quoting any one work or artist, in the "History Pictures" Sherman recreates the historical postures, types and trappings of the genre. "Untitled #213" is particularly reminiscent of the work of German painter Hans Holbein; there are marked similarities between "Untitled #213" and Holbein's portrait of Thomas More. Sherman achieves her imitations of these earlier portraits through playacting, costume, make-up, prosthetics, set decorations and lighting. The overall effect of "Untitled #213" is "realistic," except that Sherman has accentuated the fakeness of the figure's false scalp with attached hair and eyebrows. The work is in an original frame created to the artist's specifications.
A blue figure with wings crouches in a dark, starry background, where numerous full-length little figures and profiles are depicted. The central figure takes a yellow fan with the inscription “We Mourn Our Loss.” Her blue wings are mixed with colorful feathers and a drop of tear on her face.
A black and white photographic image of a sandbag and lumber structure built to protect Leonardo's "Ultima Cena" (The Last Supper) in Milan. The title of the print is rendered in letterpress in an old-style seraph typeface and spaced at between ¾-1" below the image, and centered.
Church, Gordon Parks, silver print