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Untitled (Self-Portrait)

A work made of gelatin silver print.

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  • A work made of gelatin silver print.

Date:

1947

Artist:

Merry Renk
American, 1921-2012

About this artwork

A pioneering jewelry artist, Merry Renk moved to Chicago in 1946 to study at the Institute of Design. In the spring of 1947, along with fellow students, she started an apartment gallery at 750 North Dearborn Avenue. Called the 750 Studio, the space exhibited work by students and faculty of the school, including Harry Callahan’s first solo show and a posthumous retrospective of László Moholy-Nagy’s work. Renk made this self-portrait for an assignment in Callahan’s class that explored how to photograph “people without people.” The multiple reflections in the window exemplify Callahan’s emphasis on form.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Photography and Media

Artist

Merry Renk

Title

Untitled (Self-Portrait)

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1947

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions

Image: 5.6 × 5.6 cm (2 1/4 × 2 1/4 in.); Paper: 6.7 × 6.5 cm (2 11/16 × 2 9/16 in.)

Credit Line

Edward Byron Smith and John Bross Fund in honor of Lisette Bross

Reference Number

2001.408

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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