Sally Mann

a triptych of unique ambrotypes on black glass, the second plate annotated and dated 'Summer 2011' in red crayon, the third plate with the photographer's signature and copyright etched on the reverse, framed, 2011 (3)

Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York, 2012

This triptych of ambrotypes (unique collodion wet-plate positives on black glass) is essentially in excellent condition. The plates are coated with a sandarac resin varnish . Visible upon close examination are minor pitting and unevenness of the glossy surface, an inherent result of hand-coating and varnishing the plates.
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In 2006, in the aftermath of an accident in which she was seriously injured by her horse, Sally Mann began a series of self-portraits in the ambrotype process.  She had previously utilized the related wet-plate collodion process in her Deep South series.  The use of the same chemistry on black varnish-coated glass created an ambrotype, each of which is a unique positive image.

 

Mann had made very few self-portraits prior to this series. Her decision to focus on her face or torso was largely a result of the physical limitations she endured during her long recovery.  The tight composition and directness of gaze is heightened by the physical attributes of the process.  Mann deliberately included the process’s streaks, scratches, and pitting into her finished works, and intentionally rejected early efforts that she deemed too traditionally beautiful.  By embracing these artifacts of the process, Mann allows them to play a supporting role in these direct and penetrating self-portrait studies.

 

The ambrotype process is unpredictable and time-sensitive.  The coating of the glass plate with collodion, exposure, and processing take about 6 minutes.  The fast working pace gives the finished artwork a startling immediacy.  Mann made ambrotype self-portraits in two sizes, 15 by 13½ and 10 by 8 inches. The three unique photographs offered here are in the larger format.