Robert Mapplethorpe's (1946-1989) place in the canon was earned from his incredible output of images that ranged from beautiful to brutal.
Mapplethorpe boldly showcased the beauty of bodies not often seen in society, much-less elevated to the fine-art realm. His fearless depictions of the body positioned his work in line with masters such as Courbet, Bas Jan Ader and Marina Abramovic. Some of his favourite subjects include a female body-builder (Lisa Lyon), members of the Queer and leather community, people of color, and eventually his own body ravaged by AIDS.
Regardless of subject matter, his images are both sensual and cerebral, delicate and menacing. Despite the sometimes shocking content of his work, Mapplethorpe's photographs demonstrate a formalist quality and undeniable beauty and composition.
Lisa Lyon was an American female bodybuilder and model who was regarded as a pioneer of the sport. She posed for many artists in the 1980s including Andy Warhol and Helmut Newton, but was most memorably depicted by Robert Mapplethorpe who created a series of over 200 images of the model.
Lyon can be considered as Mapplethorpe's muse and most photographed subject. When they first met in 1979, the artist was captivated by the incongruity between her muscles and feminine features, saying "I had never seen a woman like that before. It was like looking at someone from another planet."
In this striking portrait, Lyon stands against a blank backdrop, lit from above. She holds a chrome handle with either hand, leaning into her pose. She wears leather pants, loose hair, a bare chest, and shades. Staring straight at the camera, she is an image of power, sexuality and grace.
Mapplethorpe's portraits of Lyon are impactful and unconventional. Freed from the constraints of stereotypes, Lyon is depicted as a symbol of female strength. These images of strong women helped pave the way for both queer and feminist expression in the succeeding decades.
Forty years later, Mapplethorpe's photographs remain as relevant as when he made them, reflecting contemporary debates around sex and gender in a world once more grappling with shifting notions of meaning, identity, and acceptance.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire an iconic work by one of the most influential photographers of the 20th Century. Caviar20 is proud to be offering this monumental and important piece.
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"Lisa Lyon" (MAP754)
Gelatin silver print on paper
USA, 1982/2019
Photograph taken in 1982, printed in 2019.
Edition number 4 of 10
16”H 20”W (work)
29.25"H 28.5"W (framed)
Custom Gilder frame with museum glass
Estate stamped on verso
Very good condition
Exhibition history: The Outsiders, Olga Korper Gallery, 2019
Provenance: Private Collection, Toronto, ON
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