body object series #11, boot Possibly 1984 - 1993

Ann Hamilton made this gelatin silver print, part of her “body object series,” sometime in the late 20th century. It's a black and white photograph, so the process here is all about light and shadow, a sort of sculpting with tone. There’s this very direct, almost confrontational stare from the subject, but then you notice the boot. It’s being worn as a sleeve, extending out to the side. It’s such a simple gesture, but it throws everything off balance. The texture of the boot, the way it catches the light, makes it feel both heavy and absurd. It's like a surrealist joke, but it also makes you think about the body, about clothing, and about how we present ourselves to the world. I love that Hamilton isn’t afraid to be weird, to play with expectations. You could think about someone like Hannah Hoch, who was also using collage and photography to question social norms and ideas of identity. Ultimately, this piece isn’t about answers, but about opening up a space for questions and possibilities.