Five Beauties Rising
To create Five Beauties Rising, Cole scratched, dented, and hammered vintage ironing boards, which he then inked and ran through an etching press. The process revealed the shapes of structures that are normally hidden, like struts, along with impressions of the boards’ outlines and scars. The size, vertical orientation, and arched forms evoke windows from Gothic cathedrals, reliquaries, tombstones, slave ships, shields, and X-rays. At the bottom of each work is a woman’s name printed in relief. These titles refer to Cole’s ancestors who were domestic workers, as well as to the town of Savannah, Georgia, where many of the women were born. When viewed in connection with the names, the impressions of the boards take on a personal connection, acting as an homage to these women and others whose labor remains largely unacknowledged.
Artwork Details
- Title: Five Beauties Rising
- Artist: Willie Cole (American, born Newark, New Jersey, 1955)
- Printer: Cole Rogers (American, born 1959)
- Printer: Highpoint Editions
- Publisher: Highpoint Editions
- Date: 2012
- Medium: Suite of five prints; intaglio and relief
- Dimensions: 63 1/2 × 22 1/2 in. (161.3 × 57.2 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: John B. Turner Fund, 2021
- Object Number: 2021.258a–e
- Rights and Reproduction: © Willie Cole
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Willie Cole
1995
Willie Cole
2007
Willie Cole
2007
Multiple artists/makers
1999
Multiple artists/makers
1999
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.