Untitled

ca. 1984
Not on view
Charlesworth’s staged photographs take their inspiration from the realm of pop culture. A student of acting, the artist casts himself variously as victim, suspect, and private eye in anxiety-laden scenarios culled from the stock characters of pulp detective stories and film noir. Here, an unseen gunman has Charlesworth up against the wall in a classic "stick up." The arms of the artist-as-everyman flail against the garish blood-red backdrop to produce an image of near-comical fear.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Untitled
  • Artist: Bruce Charlesworth (American, born 1950)
  • Date: ca. 1984
  • Medium: Silver dye bleach print
  • Dimensions: Image: 8 × 8 in. (20.3 × 20.3 cm)
    Sheet: 8 × 8 in. (20.3 × 20.3 cm)
  • Classification: Photographs
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Charina Foundation Inc. Gift, 1984
  • Object Number: 1984.1082
  • Curatorial Department: Photographs

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