Of people who know me, it is no secret of my love affair with the subculture aesthetic. Nan Goldin is like a fine cigar; she burns cool and even with underlying notes of earth and leather. Reminiscent of the works of Diane Arbus and Anders Petersen, Goldin gives us a glimpse into a world reserved for only the initiated.
This is the image entitled, “Nan and Brian in bed, NYC.” 1983, Cibachrome 20x24 inches.
Here we see a self-portrait of the artist and her boyfriend at the time. Her glance at Brian conveys a feeling of immediacy as Brian’s slightly hunched body communicates an air of indifference. Through the use of soft, warm natural light, this is image evokes a feeling of the finality of an evening spent together, as Brian has his morning cigarette. Nan is visually isolated by a strong vertical demarcation of light evident in the center of the frame, furthering the theme of separation.
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