Slow Fade to Black: Josephine Baker
- Photograph by
- Weems, Carrie Mae, American, born 1953
- Subject of
- Baker, Josephine, American, 1906 - 1975
- Date
- 2009-2010
- Medium
- inkjet print (a): ink on photographic paper;
- frame (b): acrylic, wood, wire and metal
- Dimensions
- H x W (Image): 11 3/4 × 8 3/4 in. (29.8 × 22.2 cm)
- H x W x D (Frame): 12 7/8 × 9 7/8 × 1 1/2 in. (32.7 × 25.1 × 3.8 cm)
- Description
- Black and white inkjet print (a) of Josephine Baker in a green frame (b).
- The photograph (a) is intentionally out of focus. The figure of Josephine Baker is turned away from the camera in profile. Baker is in the center of the image and posing. Her knees are slightly bent and her body is curved inward. She is wearing a strapless white evening dress and is holding back the train of the dress with her right hand. Her left arm is resting on her leg on top of additional short layers of fabric on the side of the dress. Baker's head is in profile and her high ponytail is visible. The original photograph shows Baker's necklace and elaborate hairstyle.
- The photograph is inset in the frame (b). The back borders of the frame are raised and have paper tape around the edges. At the top is a sticker with the TransArt International shipping label. The center portion of the frame has two white adhesive labels, one with information about the artist, Carrie Mae Weems. The other has exhibit details and the address for the Jack Shainman Gallery. Below this tag is information about the frame with cleaning instructions highlighted in red marker. There is a corded metal wire screwed into the frame to hang the photograph.
- Portfolio/Series
- Slow Fade to Black
- Classification
- Visual Arts
- Photographs and Still Images
- Type
- portraits
- inkjet prints
- Topic
- Actors
- Art
- Dance
- Entertainers
- Jazz (Music)
- Photography
- Singers (Musicians)
- Women
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder in honor of Richard and Laura Parsons, Colin and Alma Powell, and Darren Walker
- Object number
- 2017.20.9ab
- Restrictions & Rights
- © Carrie Mae Weems
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.