196 / 250
142
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CARRIE MAE WEEMS (1953- )
Mirror, Mirror
.
Gelatin silver print on the printed text mount, 1987. 610x508 mm; 24x20
inches. Special edition, printed in 2008, aside from the four artist’s proofs
and edition of 5. Signed, dated “2008” and inscribed “Special Edition” in
ink, verso.
From the
Ain’t Jokin’
, 1987-1988 series, a group of 6 photographs.This later
printing is in a larger format than the 1987 edition, which was 20x16 inches.
Kathryn E. Delmez describes this important, early series as examining
“humor as a socially acceptable way to promote officially unacceptable
ideologies through unflinching pairings of stage photographs with racist
jokes, ideas or phrases.” In the powerful
Mirror, Mirror
,Weems includes
herself in the tension between the image and the text below and challenges
the viewer.
This is the first time this significant photograph by Carrie Mae Weems
has come to auction individually.Another print of
Mirror, Mirror
is in the
collection of the International Center of Photography, NewYork. Delmez
fig 2.1; pp. 62 -63.
[25,000/35,000]