My influences - Francesca Woodman

Francesca Woodman - Self Portrait

It is never a happy occurrence to know that someone died too young. Sadly Francesca Woodman was only 22 when she jumped from a window in New York. She left behind some 10,000 negatives and around 800 prints. Her parents now manage her estate and much of her work has still not been seen.

Having found photography whilst at High School she quickly developed her own style. Much of her work involved herself or friends, mostly women, in isolated situations. They are often naked which increases their appearance of vulnerability, a key feature of her pictures, although some also seem a form of celebration. The long exposures which became a part of her trademark, blur the movement and can provide an unsettling experience which makes the viewer question the events they are seeing. Almost all of her work is in black and white.

She had little acclaim during her life and it is said that a combination of the industry rejection of her work coupled with a failed relationship led to her death. Her work is now critically acclaimed however and seen as a statement, in part, of her vulnerability and as a major contribution to the developing view of women in society. Certainly the surreal influences that she acknowledged from photographers such as Man Ray and the Gothic and Surrealist movements are notably present in her work. She is also known to have admired the work of Deborah Turbeville, a fashion photographer whose work was dark and dreamy and far more feminine than her more edgy and erotic counterparts such as Helmut Newton.

Since her death books, articles and worldwide exhibitions have abounded and a critically acclaimed film "The Woodmans" released in 2010. (  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zqNUdtCwkU ).

Many museums and galleries now have prints of her work (including my local gallery The Ferens in Hull) and to me they are always immediately recognisable. You can see some of her work at Tate Online ( https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/francesca-woodman-10512 ) or Art Net ( http://www.artnet.com/artists/francesca-woodman/ ).

There are a number of books available too and I recommend Francesca Woodman by Chris Townend published through Phaidon although the new hardback version at £360.32 seems a bit steep even for such a comprehensive tome. The softback version is a more manageable £35.00.