Cindy Sherman is one of the most influential and respected photographers of the late twentieth century. Her photographs are pictures of her, but are in no way self portraits. She uses herself as a vehicle to comment on a variety of issues in the modern world. These include issues such as the role of a woman and the role of an artist etc. It is through these photographs filled with ambiguoty that Sherman has developed her own distinct style. She has raised important and challenging questions about how women are represented in society and the nature and creation of art.
Sherman works in series, photographing herself in a range of costumes.
Perhaps her most well-known series is "Untitled Film Stills" which she began in 1977. Sherman places herself in the roles of B-Movie actresses, wearing different clothes, wigs and accessories. In each photo she plays a "type" and not an actual person. There is the typical housewife, prostitute, dancer, actress etc. By giving each photo the title "Untitled" she is depersonalizing the images.






Images from
"Untitled
Film
Stills"




Towards the end of the 80's Sherman released "History Portraits." Again she used herself as the model but she cast herself in roles from famous paintings. Very few of these paintings are actually referenced. She uses prosthetic body parts and recreates great pieces of art, manipulating her role as a contemporary artist in the late twentieth century.
I am a big fan of Sherman's work. Each character looks nothing like her but yet it is. I like the way she really becomes the person she is depicting.