Portrait of Space, near Siwa, Egypt

1937, printed 1989

Lee Miller

Artist, American, 1907 - 1977

Lee Miller

Attributed to

The image presents a view through a torn screen, capturing a desert landscape beyond. Right in front of the camera is tattered mesh with a portion missing, creating an irregular opening. The edges of the mesh frame the scene and lead the eye toward the barren terrain in the distance. Directly above, a rectangular, solid frame hangs suspended in front of the mesh. The horizon is placed low in the composition and marks the beginning of an expanse of desert sands stretching far into the distance. Above the horizon, the sky occupies the top portion of the image and is empty except for a few wisps of white clouds. The photograph features a monochromatic palette of grays and blacks.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gaillard F. Ravenel and Frances P. Smyth-Ravenel, Washington D.C.; gift to NGA, 2000.

Associated Names

Bibliography

2001

  • The Surrealist and the Photographer: Roland Penrose and Lee Miller. Exh. cat. Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Edinburgh, 2001: pl. 75.

Inscriptions

center right verso in graphite: Best wishes to Gill / December '89; lower right: Lee Miller Archives stamp with graphite additions: Anthony Penrose + Suzanna Penrose / c 1989 / "Portrait of Space" 1937

Wikidata ID

Q64157301

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