Self-Portrait: Horizontal Elliptical Motion, Small
1974
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
gelatin silver print
Dimensions
image: 38 x 47.9 cm (14 15/16 x 18 7/8 in.) sheet: 40.6 x 50.5 cm (16 x 19 7/8 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Department
CPH
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Herbert and Paula Molner
Accession Number
1992.75.13
Art Historical Context
Blythe Bohnen's *Self-Portrait: Horizontaliptical Motion, Small (1974) is a striking gelatin silver print that captures the artist's innovative exploration of motion and self-perception. Created during a pivotal era in conceptual photography, when artists were pushing the boundaries of the medium to question time, space, and the body, this work exemplifies Bohnen's signature technique. Using a long exposure, she introduced subtle horizontal elliptical movements—likely of her head or features—resulting in ethereal blurs that trace rhythmic paths across her face. The "small" designation hints at...