Hanne Darboven: Portrait as Time-Locked Relic
A 2012 art press article analyzes a photographic portrait of Hanne Darboven, taken in American shot framing. The image freezes her mid-gesture, cigarette suspended, evoking wax figures rather than a living subject. A childhood photo of the artist appears in the background, creating a closed loop of gazes across time. Darboven (born Munich, 1941) moved to New York in 1966, where she formed a lifelong friendship with Sol LeWitt. She died of cancer on March 9, 2009, in her studio near Hamburg.
Key facts
- The portrait is an American shot, but the subject's head turns left.
- Darboven holds a cigarette that appears to burn eternally, with ash suspended.
- The skin and eyes resemble wax figures from Musée Grévin.
- A black-and-white framed photo of a young girl (presumably Darboven) rests at her neck.
- The article compares the portrait to Jonathan Zimmerman in Wim Wenders' film 'The American Friend'.
- Darboven was born in Munich in 1941.
- She moved to New York in 1966 and befriended Sol LeWitt.
- She died in her studio near Hamburg on March 9, 2009, from cancer.
Entities
Artists
- Hanne Darboven
- Sol LeWitt
- Wim Wenders
- Jonathan Zimmerman
Institutions
- art press
- Musée Grévin
Locations
- Munich
- Germany
- New York
- Hamburg
Sources
- artpress —