Robert Mapplethorpe

Self Portrait

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About this artwork

In Mapplethorpe’s many self portraits he often appears staged and composed. His self portraits were often created at seminal points throughout his career and can be seen as documents of the many facets to his personality. In this image Mapplethorpe emanates a challenging stare, whilst he poses in an overtly masculine leather jacket, shirt and tie. A dichotomy is created between the suit and the leather jacket, the first suggesting formality and rigor, the second implying a more rebellious and dangerous streak.

Updated before 2020

see media
  • artist:
  • title:
    Self Portrait
  • date created:
    1982; printed 1991
  • materials:
    Gelatin silver print on paper
  • measurements:
    38.80 x 38.40 cm (framed: 68.40 x 66.20 x 3.10 cm)
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Lent by Artist Rooms Foundation 2014
  • accession number:
    AL00362
  • gallery:
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Robert Mapplethorpe

Robert Mapplethorpe