Untitled (Performance of Charlotte Moorman and Nam June Paik's "New Sounds from Old Rubbish and Bare Bodies," London, March, 1969)

1969

Charlotte Moorman

Associated Names
Charlotte Moorman

Artist, American, 1933 - 1991

John Drysdale

Photographer, American

This is a photograph of a woman playing a cello while sitting on a person lying on the floor. The woman is elegantly dressed in a dark gown, playing the cello with the bow in her right hand. The cello is positioned over her shoulder and rests on the floor. The person she sits on is lying face down wearing a light sweater. Another person lies on their back, holding the endpin of the cello with their mouth. The setting includes a wooden floor, drapes, and plain textured walls, suggesting an indoor environment like a studio or stage. The image is in black and white and is lit to highlight the contours and form of the cello and figures.
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Eileen and Michael Cohen, New York; gift to NGA, 2011.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, center typed in purple ink on paper: Charlotte Moorman and Nam June Paik: / New Sounds From Old Rubbish and Bare Bodies Mar1969 / It's good classical music (St. Saens' 'The Swan') that Miss / Moorman is playing. The only difference is that she sits on a / human music stool (Peter Spilsbury), and rests her cello on the / chin of prostrate David Bensusan, who simultaneously acts as a / human music stand. / Please acknowledge photograph by: John Drysdale / Camera Press London 14772-7; center stamped in red ink: La publication du nom du / photographe est obligatoire: / John Drysdale; lower center left, stamped in black ink: Noir & Blanc / numero: 1258 [written in red ink] / page 19 [written in red ink]; by unknown hand, center in black marker, encircled: 5; lower center right, stamped in black ink: agence de presse / PARIMAGE / 10-12, rue Richer / Paris - 9' 770.75.13; lower right stamped in black ink: Copyright / Camera Press / Ltd. Russell Court / Coram Street / London, W.C.1 / Terminus 4488 &9393; in black marker along left side 98

Wikidata ID

Q64145821

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