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Francesca Woodman's Self-Portrait Practice Revealed in New Essay

publication · 2026-06-10

A new essay by Daniela Trincia and Anita Romanello on doppiozero.it examines Francesca Woodman's early self-portrait practice, focusing on a 1977 encounter with Cristiano Casetti. Woodman gave Casetti a gray canvas box containing dozens of photographs, declaring 'I am a photographer' and specifying she used the self-timer. Her business card read 'Francesca Stern Woodman | Photographs.' The essay highlights her technique of self-timer photography and intervention on prints with writing or paint, dating back to her teenage experiments. At thirteen, she created 'Self portrait at thirteen,' a work where her arm merges with the cable release, forming a continuous line that unites her body and space.

Key facts

  • Francesca Woodman gave Cristiano Casetti a gray canvas box of photographs in autumn 1977.
  • She declared 'Io sono una fotografa' (I am a photographer) to Casetti.
  • Her business card read 'Francesca Stern Woodman | Photographs.'
  • She used self-timer photography and intervened on prints with writing or paint.
  • Her self-portrait practice began at age thirteen.
  • At thirteen she created 'Self portrait at thirteen.'
  • In that work, her arm merges with the cable release forming a continuous line.
  • The essay is by Daniela Trincia and Anita Romanello on doppiozero.it.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • doppiozero.it

Sources