Self-Portrait (feet)

John CoplansWW-1989-109128

1989·Vintage gelatin silver prints (6)·Each: 53 × 42.7 cm (20 7/8 × 16 13/16 in.)

<p>After fighting for the British in World War II, John Coplans devoted his life to art. He moved to San Francisco in 1960 and within a few years cofounded the renowned journal <em>Artforum</em>. In 1984 Coplans began a series in which he documented his own aging body. Detesting the flawless portrayals in fashion advertisements, he favored a bluntly realistic representation of the human figure. Here Coplans zoomed in on the rough texture of his heels. The closeness of lens to subject creates a tension between intimacy and anonymity.</p>

Catalogue

Year: 1989
Medium: Vintage gelatin silver prints (6)
Dimensions: Each: 53 × 42.7 cm (20 7/8 × 16 13/16 in.)
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago
Artist: John Coplans

Artist

John Coplans

Photography

John Rivers Coplans was a British artist, art writer, curator, and museum director. A veteran of World War II and a photographer, he emigrated to the United States in 1960 and had many exhibitions in Europe and North America. He was on the founding editorial staff of Artforum from 1962 to 1971, and was Editor-in-Chief from 1972 to 1977.

London, UK

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