Research Catalog

Title

Centerfold (Untitled #96) / Cindy Sherman ; Gwen Allen.

Author

Sherman, Cindy

Publication

• New York : The Museum of Modern Art, [2021]
• New York : Distributed by Artbook/D.A.P.
• ©2021

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Allen, Gwen, 1971-

Description

47 pages, 1 unnumbered page : illustrations (some color), portraits; 23 cm.

Summary

• "In 1981 Cindy Sherman (born 1954) was commissioned to contribute a special project to Artforum magazine. Given two facing pages, she chose to explore the pornographic centerfold, creating 12 large-scale horizontal images of herself appearing as various young women, often reclining, in private, melancholic moments of reverie. As Sherman explained, 'I wanted a man opening up the magazine to suddenly look at it in expectation of something lascivious and then feel like the violator that they would be.' Sherman's Centerfolds were so provocative that they were never published for fear that they would be misunderstood. In her essay, Gwen Allen, Professor of Art History and Director of the School of Art at San Francisco State University, examines one of the most iconic photographs in the series, Untitled #96--in which a young woman lies on her back against an orange and yellow vinyl floor, clutching a scrap of newspaper--exploring the production and critical reception of Sherman's Centerfolds in relationship to the politics of pornography, gender and representation."--Brookline Booksmith (viewed on February 17, 2021)
• "In 1981 Cindy Sherman was commissioned to contribute a special project to 'Artforum' magazine. Given a two-page spread to work with, she chose to explore the erotic centerfold--a standard feature of men's 'lifestyle' magazines ever since it was established by 'Playboy' in the mid-1950s. Sherman created twelve large-scale horizontal photographs of herself appearing as various young (often reclining) women in private moments of melancholic reverie, longing, or waiting. 'I wanted a man opening up the magazine to suddenly look at it in expectation of something lascivious,' the artist explained, 'and then feel like the violator that they would be. Collectively referred to as Sherman's Centerfolds series, these works were so provocative that 'Artforum' never published them, fearing that they would be misunderstood. Art historian Gwen Allen examines one of the most iconic photographs in the series, 'Untitled #96'--positioning it within both Serman's work as a whole and the politics of pornography, gender, and representation."--Page 4 of printed paper wrapper.

Series Statement

MoMA One on One Series

Uniform Title

1 on one.

Alternative Title

• Cindy Sherman : Centerfold (Untitled #96)
• Cindy Sherman : Centerfold (Untitled Number 96)

Subject

• Sherman, Cindy
• Sherman, Cindy > Criticism and interpretation
• Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) > Photograph collections
• Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.)
• Feminism in art > Pictorial works
• Photography of women
• Photography > Social aspects
• Portrait photography
• Magazine illustration > 20th century
• Girlie magazines
• Women photographers > United States
• Photograph collections > New York (State) > New York

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (page 45).

Call Number

JQE 21-470

ISBN

• 9781633451186
• 1633451186

OCLC

1159755463

Author

Sherman, Cindy, artist, photographer.

Title

Centerfold (Untitled #96) / Cindy Sherman ; Gwen Allen.

Publisher

New York : The Museum of Modern Art, [2021]

Distributor

New York : Distributed by Artbook/D.A.P.

Copyright Date

©2021

Type of Content

text

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

MoMA One on One Series

1 on one.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (page 45).

Biography

Cindy Sherman, born 1954.

Added Author

Allen, Gwen, 1971- author.

Research Call Number

JQE 21-470