DONALD SULTAN (AMERICAN, B. 1951)
1985-1986
5 ½” x 5 ½”

These small, painterly photographs are preparatory studies for Sultan’s much larger still lifes, 8-foot-square compositions against tar black backgrounds which he has described as “heavy structure, holding fragile meaning.” Unlike the paintings, which are firmly abstract and undeniably contemporary, the photographs seem to emerge more directly from the tradition of 17th century Dutch and Spanish still life painting.

On verso, in the artist’s hand, each photo is titled, initialed, and dated. Each from an edition of 8. Each photo separately framed in ebonized wood.