Calliope
Photograph
1989 (photographed)
1989 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This photograph is from a series of portraits of creative black women by Maud Sulter, who is herself of Ghanaian and Scottish parentage. The series is called 'Zabat' and shows each woman as one of the nine Greek muses. This image is a self portrait of Sulter as Jeanne Duval, the mistress of Charles Baudelaire. Here she represents Calliope, the muse of epic poetry.
Maud Sulter produced the Zabat series for Rochdale Art Gallery in 1989, the 150th anniversary of the invention of photography. It was a direct response to the lack of a black presence at other celebratory events and exhibitions. Here we see the conventions of Victorian portrait photography under the command of a black woman photographer. The backdrop, props and seated pose are all retained but the image is transformed by the resolute black woman at its centre.
The title 'Zabat' also signifies Maud Sulter's call for a repositioning of black women in the history of photography: the word describes an ancient ritual dance performed by women on occasions of power.
Maud Sulter produced the Zabat series for Rochdale Art Gallery in 1989, the 150th anniversary of the invention of photography. It was a direct response to the lack of a black presence at other celebratory events and exhibitions. Here we see the conventions of Victorian portrait photography under the command of a black woman photographer. The backdrop, props and seated pose are all retained but the image is transformed by the resolute black woman at its centre.
The title 'Zabat' also signifies Maud Sulter's call for a repositioning of black women in the history of photography: the word describes an ancient ritual dance performed by women on occasions of power.
Delve deeper
Discover more about this object
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | Dye destruction print |
| Brief description | 'Calliope', dye destruction print, Zabat series, Maud Sulter, 1989 |
| Physical description | Photograph of Maud Sulter represented as Calliope, the muse of epic poetry. She is pictured draped in black fabric, seated by a table with a small cased photograph on it. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Historical context | Maud Sulter works with photography as well as video and installation. Amongst her recent projects has been a series of allegorical portraits of contemporary black women which used conventional studio techniques along with the trappings of historical displays. Sulter also uses a variety of conventions from portraiture - from 18th century costume to heavy Victorian frames. The contrast between these anachronistic and aristocratic styles and the actual histories of her sitters is used to poetic effect and also raises questions about the nature of 'national' heritage. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This photograph is from a series of portraits of creative black women by Maud Sulter, who is herself of Ghanaian and Scottish parentage. The series is called 'Zabat' and shows each woman as one of the nine Greek muses. This image is a self portrait of Sulter as Jeanne Duval, the mistress of Charles Baudelaire. Here she represents Calliope, the muse of epic poetry. Maud Sulter produced the Zabat series for Rochdale Art Gallery in 1989, the 150th anniversary of the invention of photography. It was a direct response to the lack of a black presence at other celebratory events and exhibitions. Here we see the conventions of Victorian portrait photography under the command of a black woman photographer. The backdrop, props and seated pose are all retained but the image is transformed by the resolute black woman at its centre. The title 'Zabat' also signifies Maud Sulter's call for a repositioning of black women in the history of photography: the word describes an ancient ritual dance performed by women on occasions of power. |
| Associated objects |
|
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1796-1991 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | May 2, 2007 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
