Self portrait with flower, 1977-1978

Francesca Stern Woodman was an American photographer famous for her black and white photographs. For subject matter, she used young women as models. She also used herself as a model. She used movement and extended exposure times to blur the images she captured. Many of her compositions include nude bodies that blend into their backgrounds or faces that are hidden. During her career, Woodman produced an estimated 10,000 negatives, which are owned by her parents as part of her estate. Most of her prints are made in 8 by 10 size and smaller, because she wanted to create intimacy between her photographic images and those who would view them. Many of the images she produced are not named, but catalogued according to the place and date where they were taken. Francesca Woodman was said to have been influenced by Victorian era women, Greek mythology, and surrealism. Other influences include the novel Nadja by Andre Breton; Man Ray, Duane Michals, Deborah Turbeville and Max Klinger. One of her most famous photographs is self-portrait at thirteen, Boulder, Colorado, 1972-1975. Another famous image is Woodman appears as Alice, in a Victorian dress, untitled Providence, Rhode Island, 1975-1976. Woodman’s work was exhibited at smaller events in Rome and New York during her lifetime. Her videos, photographs, and art books have been well exhibited around the world since her death.