For years, Francesca Woodman’s photographs have been heralded as the work of a genius. But a look into her backstory simply reveals a young woman with a tragic end, raising the question: was Francesca Woodman a genius—or insane?
From the first glance at her photos, many would be compelled to declare her as mentally unstable; everyday photographers capture stills of sunsets and plants, not dilapidated houses and broken mirrors. The ghost-like women that appear in the black-and-white images are frightening, with blurred faces and unclear bodies.
However, upon further scrutiny, Woodman does not simply create apparitions; the women featured in her pictures are a glimpse into her mind and way of thinking. By concealing faces and giving no clear expression, Woodman calls for the viewer to truly think: what story is she trying to tell this time?
The photographer’s brilliance was cut short on January 19th, 1981, when she took her life at the age of 22. Perhaps Woodman’s portfolio could have expanded. Or perhaps she had done all that she wanted to do in life; she had fulfilled her purpose, and she found no point in making more photographs.
Whatever the case, while Francesca Woodman died at an early age, her work, as well as her legacy lives on. Though Woodman may have been a troubled woman with abstract ideas, there is one statement that remains true to this day: her photos are windows into the heart of a genius.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211209-francesca-woodman-the-eerie-images-of-a-teenage-genius
From the first glance at her photos, many would be compelled to declare her as mentally unstable; everyday photographers capture stills of sunsets and plants, not dilapidated houses and broken mirrors. The ghost-like women that appear in the black-and-white images are frightening, with blurred faces and unclear bodies.
However, upon further scrutiny, Woodman does not simply create apparitions; the women featured in her pictures are a glimpse into her mind and way of thinking. By concealing faces and giving no clear expression, Woodman calls for the viewer to truly think: what story is she trying to tell this time?
The photographer’s brilliance was cut short on January 19th, 1981, when she took her life at the age of 22. Perhaps Woodman’s portfolio could have expanded. Or perhaps she had done all that she wanted to do in life; she had fulfilled her purpose, and she found no point in making more photographs.
Whatever the case, while Francesca Woodman died at an early age, her work, as well as her legacy lives on. Though Woodman may have been a troubled woman with abstract ideas, there is one statement that remains true to this day: her photos are windows into the heart of a genius.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20211209-francesca-woodman-the-eerie-images-of-a-teenage-genius
