Figure in Gum Bichromate

Joe: I love how the light and the process emphasizes the shape of the model's body.

Very painterly - I love it.

Very nice...reminiscent of a Philip Pearlstein painting

I think it's an interesting photograph. The position of her neck, and how she stretches up makes it almost erotic by nature, in the best possible sense of the words. I like your treatment at the printing stage a lot, Joe. Looks almost three dimensional. How many layers of gum?
- Thomas

Really nice and inspiring. Can you tell us anything you remember about how many passes with the gum you made? I've have just gotten my feet slightly wet with gum and would love to get your input on what you did to achieve this look. Thanks in advance, Bill Barber

I can see three layers of gum in the brush strokes on this print. Seems like it took more, but I guess not. On a multicolor gum print from a monochrome negative such as this, I may go up to 8 layers.

It doesn't show very well in the scan, but in the actual print the brushstrokes and resultant physical abrasive "dodging" using a brush has flattened out areas or the form making them blocky with flat planes that push the forms in and out. With the streaky CMY colors, it is kind of a neat effect.

And Matthew you are uncannily on with your statement. I've been outed! I was looking at a lot of Pearlstein (and Friedlander) around the time I made this image. I also did one of my best cyanotypes around this time but the pose was lifted from one of Pearlstein's figures so I ended up hating it. It is a beautiful image but not really mine. Sigh, a wonderful form sits abandoned. It taught me a lesson.

Joe, I love everything about this.

JIM

ya, to me too, pearlsteins paintings have a strong presence here... really amusing , his inspiration is photographic frame and the aspect of reality ...
very good work ... love the airy colors and the rough/gritty texture too...

And Matthew you are uncannily on with your statement. I've been outed! I was looking at a lot of Pearlstein (and Friedlander) around the time I made this image. I also did one of my best cyanotypes around this time but the pose was lifted from one of Pearlstein's figures so I ended up hating it. It is a beautiful image but not really mine. Sigh, a wonderful form sits abandoned. It taught me a lesson.[/QUOTE]

Hi smieglitz, I love this image and I'm intrigued to see you and others mention Pearlstein. I look at painters often. Also, I teach at Brooklyn College where Pearlstein taught for many years. He's still showing, too. Great shot, great print.