William Wegman

Second and Third Steps
1989

Two identical black and white photographs side by side, each depicting a sculpture of a seated human figure with an elongated form, perched atop a small, dark pedestal. The background is plain and the images are signed and dated at the bottom.

Two identical black and white photographs side by side, each depicting a sculpture of a seated human figure with an elongated form, perched atop a small, dark pedestal. The background is plain and the images are signed and dated at the bottom.

Not on view

Date
1989

Classification
Photographs

Medium
Two gelatin silver prints

Dimensions
Sheet: 19 15/16 × 23 15/16in. (50.6 × 60.8 cm) Image (Each): 7 1/2 × 7 1/2in. (19.1 × 19.1 cm)

Accession number
92.38.11

Edition
12/50 | 15 APs

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz

Rights and reproductions
© William Wegman

API
artworks/8047

Part of a series:
The Indomitable Spirit
11 works

A monochromatic artwork featuring abstract shapes and lines with a signature and edition number at the bottom. The central image appears to be a collage or layered composition with translucent elements and a network of intersecting white lines on a dark background. The piece is mounted on a white border.

A vintage photograph with a sepia tone shows two men shaking hands. The image is damaged, with the right side featuring a man whose body and face are obscured by red and orange textured marks, giving a ghostly appearance. The background depicts a faintly painted scene with trees and a bench. The photo has an irregular, arch-like top edge and is set against a white background.

A graphic artwork featuring two figures dressed in plaid suits, one on a white background with a blue circle obscuring the face, and the other on a black background with a yellow circle where the face should be. The style is reminiscent of pop art, with a stark contrast between the two halves of the image.

Two identical black and white photographs side by side, each depicting a sculpture of a seated human figure with an elongated form, perched atop a small, dark pedestal. The background is plain and the images are signed and dated at the bottom.

A close-up photograph of a sunflower with a dark center and vibrant yellow petals, framed against a blue background, with handwritten inscriptions along the bottom edge indicating the print number and the year 1987.

A staged photograph featuring an assortment of objects arranged in a surreal manner. A wooden shelf holds various items including a figurine, bottles, and a fluted column, with a disembodied hand reaching up from below. The scene is bathed in warm, reddish-orange light, casting dramatic shadows on the backdrop and creating an otherworldly atmosphere. The image is signed and numbered on the bottom edge.

Poster with "The Indomitable Spirit" at top, grid of emotions with corresponding images below, and "Photographers + Friends, United Against AIDS" at bottom.

A black and white photograph of a hand with fingers extended, touching the edge of a dark, textured surface that resembles a celestial body or a close-up of a mineral formation. The image is centered on a white background with handwritten inscriptions at the bottom.

A shadow of a person's silhouette projected onto a wall, creating an abstract and artistic black and white image.

A surreal artwork featuring a close-up of a woman's eye looking through a hole in a stack of what appears to be thin, circular ceramic or porcelain objects, possibly plates, held in a hand against a black background. The image has a warm, sepia-toned color palette.

William Wegman
53 works in the collection

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