Francesca Woodman

1975-76 (Woodman, Phaidon, p. 237, variant)

Gift of the photographer to the present owner, when students together at the Rhode Island School of Design in the 1970s

This early print, on single-weight, slightly warm paper with a surface sheen, is in generally very good to excellent condition. The margin edges are slightly rubbed, and the corners are bumped. There is minor creasing in the upper (margin) corners. When examined in raking light, a soft linear handling crease and several small, faint soft handling creases are visible in the right half of the image. There are small, minor creases and indentations in the margins of the print.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In the 1970s, artists' books and narrative sequences of images, such as those by Duane Michals, became popular. Francesca Woodman created six unique sequenced narrative books of photographs, among them Portrait of a Reputation.  The image offered here is a variant of the fourth image in that work, which Chris Townsend describes as 'a powerful allegory of the experience of being touched, as if being stained by that act' (Francesca Woodman, p. 236).