by Ellen von Unwerth
Again?, New York, 1997
Artist: Ellen von Unwerth
Shot in New York in 1997, this gelatin silver photograph catches a mid-action moment in a dim hotel bedroom: a laughing blonde in a slip and a pair of feathered angel wings kneels on the bed, reaching out to grab a second woman by the skirt as she is pulled, mid-stride, out of frame. Von Unwerth works fast and loose in black and white, all available light and motion blur, so the picture reads as a snatched, unscripted burst of play. The title’s exasperated “Again?” turns the scuffle into an ongoing, affectionate joke.
Read as fine art, the picture is about mischief and friendship, the angel wings winking at innocence while the tug-of-war says the opposite. The theme is spontaneity itself, a private moment of horseplay between two women who are clearly running the scene, not performing it for anyone. Von Unwerth’s signature is exactly this diaristic energy, glamour caught off-guard with humour and warmth. The work suits a relaxed, characterful interior that can carry its width, and speaks to collectors drawn to fashion photography’s crossover into fine art. Ellen von Unwerth’s photographs are issued as limited editions, each print part of a controlled run.
Sizes & Editions
121.9 × 182.9 cm (48 × 72 in), Gelatin Silver Print
Size: medium
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