Reproduction Proof of "Self Portrait as Fountain" 1966

Bruce Nauman created this gelatin silver print, "Self Portrait as Fountain," which captures a moment of performance and challenges traditional notions of the artist's role. Emerging in the late 1960s, Nauman questioned what art could be, often using his own body to explore the boundaries of artistic expression. This image, with Nauman’s torso and face centered, shows him projecting water from his mouth, mimicking a fountain. The black background emphasizes the starkness and simplicity, typical of the conceptual photography of that time. The work is in conversation with the art world's historical and gendered traditions, particularly the male artist as a source of creativity and innovation, but Nauman is clearly subverting it. The self-portrait becomes a poignant commentary on the artist's identity, performance, and the body. It invites us to consider the artist's physical presence and his actions, in the wider context of societal expectations.