The German born American photographer Ruth Bernhard stunning nude study of a dreaming women, sleeping inside a box that is positioned in the foreground of a depthless space thematically and technically recalls the work of Man Ray (Dreams of Desire 4 (Homage to De Sade), Dreams of Desire 25 (Return to Reason), Jacques-Andre Boiffard (Dreams of Desire 13 (Serene Beauty) and others from the Golden Age of Surrealism.
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I’ll make the obvious connection – Boxing Helena. I don’t find this all that disturbing, however… Its more like the box is a shelter from the void beyond. I really do wish she’d tuck her left arm inside, though. This is gorgeous, Cake. Thank you for sharing
I did not finish my School of Sade writing tip… I’ll try again for next week.
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I haven’t actually seen that movie. I also find this gorgeous, I think it is very much to do with form and space, but that kind of waffle makes my eyes glaze over. i am very behind as well, will be over to catch up on Breaking Bread shortly.
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It’s been a long time since I’ve seen it as well, but it kind of sticks with you… Don’t glaze over, Cake! Are you going to post more of Ruth Bernhard?
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Well she lived a life, she is kind of outside the scope but she was definitely influenced by the surrealists, some critics have seen this as an ironic commentary on Man Ray etc.
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Ironic? How so?
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Perhaps ironic isn’t the correct term. More like a criticism of the objectification of women that the surrealists have so often been accursed of. I never really brought that argument though, and as Bernhard was un-apologetically bisexual I don’t believe it applies to this photograph at all. I think it is exercise in form and depth.
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Ah, I see. Thank you. Whatever the case – it’s a stunner.
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Well if there is one thing that makes my eyes glaze over more than discussion on form is censorious feminist re-readings of Surrealism, which is grossly unfair considering the number of women artists in the movement.
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It’s likely that this view arose from some of the major male players, though, correct? Like Man Ray?
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I should say their apparent attitudes….
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I am not saying that they should be immune from criticism, but it is the censorious tone. Times have chamged, the orthodoxy that prevails now cannot cudgel the past.
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Absolutely true. All of history would need to be so censored! And without the past to learn from we repeat and repeat and … wait a minute, we do that anyway.
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First as tragedy then as farce
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Smiling… yes indeed!
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Hegel finished by Marx that quote
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Cake, you are amazing. (Compliment)
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True, but would his photographs have been quite as good if desire didn’t play a part?
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No, not even close! You know I’ve fallen for Man Ray in a large way!
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Man Ray is the Man. My point exactly.
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Agreed. Love.
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Meg, I thought I was the only one to sit through that movie, memorable is all I can say. 😉
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Ahhh you two have found another shared interest.
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I think it might be okay to say the film was awful. But… I do remember it far too well, what does that say about art?
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And the human mind
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True.
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Haha! Indeed.
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On contrare, the arm outside is what helps the image transend the normality of this kind of view, stops it being porn or worse. It challenges us with meaning.
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I would agree, a part of her is escaping the confines of the box into the depthless dreamscape that makes up the majority of the photograph. I certainly do not find the image obscene. It has a rare formal perfection.
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Mr. Cake, this is an absolutely stunning photograph. I agree, “rare formal perfection”! ~ Miss Cranes
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Thank you Miss Cranes I thought you would approve of this photograph and of a California based artist.
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I adore it, I hope you do some more posts showcasing Ruth Bernhard’s work.
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I probably will she is a very interesting artist… so many posts to do!
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Good, looking forward to that. Yes, you do have a lot cooking.
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This is beautiful. 🙂
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Thank you Vic, hopefully I still have my eye for quality art.
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They are all quality! I’m afraid I fail at art critique. I just see a lovely naked woman in a frame…when I’m sure the artist meant to make it speak a certain way.
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Well that is certainly a large part of their appeal, the rest is just gilding the lily.
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Love this photo!!
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Thank you very much, good to know that my eye for such things is still going strong.
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