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


  • Select one image and describe what it seems to express about the person shown.

  • Do you think the artist is telling the truth about him- or herself?

  • If you created a self-portrait, what would you want it to convey?


Cindy Sherman's self portrait presents many contrasting elements, which makes me feel that she is not telling the truth who she is. Most obvious is the stark hard surface of the building behind the soft folds of her jacket and the transparency of her scarf. The open expression on her face seems to contradict the almost sly and incognito clothing and movement of her body. Her body and her neck, which turns to look behind, create an uneasy feeling, but her gaze is steady and her face is calm. The truth about who she is does not seem to be present in this photograph.


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Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #58, 1980. Gelatin silver print, 5 3/8 x 9 5/16 inches (13.6 x 23.7 cm), edition 1/10. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Gift, Ginny Williams 97.4611
To read more about Catherine Opie's work, visit Catherine Opie: American Photographer