While viewing this image, visitors responded to one of the questions Catherine Opie posed about portraits.


  • What do you think makes a portrait interesting?

  • How do the titles of these photographs make you think differently about the people they portray?

  • Some of these images are made spontaneously while others are carefully staged by the artist. How does this difference in approach affect your response?


An interesting portrait to me is one that represents people honestly. Not only is it usually aesthetically pleasing, but it also is educational and interesting. In Keita's photo of 3 women, she presents them in their usual daily clothing, telling the viewer something about their environment and status, and then the juxtaposition of the car brings to mind a completely different world or environment. The two together represent a very real albeit somewhat staged composition that's intriguing and interesting.


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Seydou Keïta, Untitled, ca. 1955-98. Gelatin silver print, 19 3/4 x 23 7/8 inches (50.2 x 60.6 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Gift, The Bohen Foundation 2001.158
To read more about Catherine Opie's work, visit Catherine Opie: American Photographer